Biennial bash in pics

THEY came from afar and awide, but a hell of a lot of them seemed very familiar, and when there's a party on like this, you can be sure the usual suspects will sniff it out without too much trouble

Liverpool was in going-out mode, weekend just gone, with the International Biennial opening, and its artistic curiosities can be seen at venues around the city, ooh for ages yet, and well worth a day out.

It's one of the highest of high profile events in the creative calendar, and would not be complete without a big social. And so to the Biennial bash.

More than 1,700 people turned out in several warehouses around the so-called Independent Quarter, up by Cain's Brewery, to shmooze and booze until all hours, and they ventured forth from all around the world.

When the free bar ran out at this highly anticipated event, those in the know made a sharp exit to the nearby Brewery Tap. But there was still many a cultural chinwag to be had by sticking it out in the Eurowrap building, while drinking £12 Aussie Hardys merlot from plastic, listening to the toetapping sounds of various DJs , or letting your hair down to tunes by the Seal Club Clubbing Club.

Jovial Biennial supremo Lewis Biggs came to Confidential's rescue in the

small hours by handing our thirsty operative some cloakroom tickets that they could exchange for four beers, proving the old adage that good things come to those who wait, as does the emergency free stash.

Are you in this crowd? Anybody you know? Anybody you'd like to get to know? Let us, er, know.