Jo & Matt’s 50th A Weekend to Remember at the Square and Compass

Wow. What a weekend! I had the absolute honour of DJing Jo and Matt’s 50th birthday celebration at the Square and Compass pub in Darley Dale, Matlock, and let me tell you — it was something special.

The pub garden was buzzing with good energy from the start. Sunshine (mostly), brilliant company, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you know it’s going to be a night to remember.

The beer? Spot on. Jo’s brother Sam brought along his own brew — Yarl Citra Blonde — and it was flowing all day. Bright, citrusy, totally refreshing… it kept everyone smiling and hydrated for the dance floor later.

As evening rolled in, Basil laid on an incredible Lebanese feast. Smoky grilled meats, falafel, hummus, flatbreads — full flavour, zero leftovers. Big love to Basil for feeding the masses with such style.

And then came the cake table — and wow, it was on another level. Everyone brought something, and the result was a glorious, homemade spread.

Highlights? Mum’s rich, gooey brownie cake, Gina’s colourful cupcakes, a seriously good coffee and walnut cake, and hands down the best gingerbread cake I’ve ever tasted. Every time I turned around, someone was going back for just “one more little slice” — and I don’t blame them.

And if that wasn’t enough, there was the cheese table too — a bring-your-own selection that covered everything from creamy brie to sharp cheddar and punchy blues. Pure heaven.

Now, my bit — the tunes.
I kicked things off with a heavy dose of 90s dance classics, layered in some newer bangers, and let the rhythm do the rest. Using just my eyes to control my setup, I was locked in — and so was the crowd.

Ade and Michael didn’t stop for a second — full power throwback to their uni days, owning the floor. The subwoofer was maxed, the tent was rocking, and everywhere I looked, people were dancing, grinning, and just fully in it.

And I’ve got to give a special mention to the parents — Jo’s folks, Sally and Mike, and Matt’s mum and dad, Lyn and LA — who were right there on the dance floor, dancing with everyone and clearly loving every minute. It was so lovely to see.

Oh — and did I mention we camped at the pub? Absolute win. Tents went up, stars came out, and luckily the rain held off until we were all zipped up and dreaming of cake and basslines.

Jo and Matt — thank you for putting on such a warm, generous, joy-filled weekend. It was more than a party — it was a celebration of life, love, and community. I was proud to be part of it.

Here’s to the next time.
Much love,
DJ Oli