An even bigger bash next door

AMERICAN billionaire Preston Haskell upped the ante on his previous New Year's Eve bashes attended by the world's rich and famous by splurging R14-million on buying the 1101m² plot next to his home in Fresnaye, Cape Town, for this year's party.

Drawing inspiration from the 1920s, Haskell's bash, dubbed Preston's New Year's Eve Prohibition Celebration, promised to be bigger and better than ever.

Those lucky enough to crack the guest list (eager party goers have been known to try scaling the walls or bribing organisers) needed to show wristbands specially imported from Moscow.

That was their ticket for access through a security wall manned by "close-protection specialists" flown in from St Tropez's famous Les Caves Du Roy nightclub.

The emphasis on security was understandable - Prince Caroline and Prince Albert of Monaco are close Haskell friends, while Elton John and Madonna are rumoured to have been attendees in the past.

Even so, usually laid-back Cape Town society is agog that Haskell - who last year hosted UK pop princess Cheryl Cole in her first public appearance with then squeeze Derek Hough. This was after she dumped her cheating soccer husband Ashley Cole - has taken VIP security to a new level.

Only certain A-listers, such as cricketer Graeme Smith, winemakers Anthony and Olive Hamilton Russell, architect Stefan Antoni and realty queen Denise Dogon, were invited to the dinner-dance part of the night, which kicked off at 7pm, while the rest of the pack gained access only at 11pm.

At the time of going to press, the dinner - catered by Cape Town company Rhubarb - was said to be 1920s Italian style, washed down with Dombeya wines from Haskell's vineyard and Cristal champagne.

The children's themed area featured candy-striped hot-dog stands, candy-floss and popcorn machines.

Party organiser Sarah Cort of Voila Events and Vaudeville creators Will Hutton and Andrew Florenca created a show called the Boom Boom Ball.

Guests could also try their luck at the specially built "Casino Haskell", with themed money and prizes, before enjoying the music of an electro swing band.

Haskell's new acquisition, a prime piece of real estate adjacent to his villa, was flattened and landscaped to feature a meandering path of steps to join together the two properties.

Cort said she was stunned when the businessman with interests across the globe told her a few months ago that he had secured the extra land for this year's party.

"We wanted to outdo what we did last year, and this certainly helps," she said.

DJs Big Ali and D-Bass from St Tropez and DJ Andreas from Mykonos were flown in to entertain the crowds, along with Los Angeles-based singer Bleona Qereti, known as the Madonna of Albania.

After the festivities, Haskell intends to turn the new property into a kiddies' playground and tennis court for his family - until his next New Year's Eve party.