Financial Backer Required For West London Soul Bar

[Guest]

financial backer wanted for northern soul bar in central or west london(oxford st area),

with the ever groing demand for northern etc from tourists etc and the increasing allnighters happening in london it would be great to have a permanant venue to visit during regular and after allnighter hours,therefore im looking for someone to back me financially i.e lease and interior refurb(6ts soul style)

i have been in the trade for 22years on and off and know my stuff also my soul,i am a personal license holder also certified in cellar managment and dps supervisor certified,look forward to hearing from any interested parties,sincerly ali derees mobile 07909552109

[paultp]

financial backer wanted for northern soul bar in central or west london(oxford st area),

with the ever groing demand for northern etc from tourists etc and the increasing allnighters happening in london it would be great to have a permanant venue to visit during regular and after allnighter hours,therefore im looking for someone to back me financially i.e lease and interior refurb(6ts soul style)

i have been in the trade for 22years on and off and know my stuff also my soul,i am a personal license holder also certified in cellar managment and dps supervisor certified,look forward to hearing from any interested parties,sincerly ali derees mobile 07909552109

Have you any idea what a lease costs in central or west london?

You're talking hundreds of thousands to be honest.

Best of luck.

[Mrtag]

Have you any idea what a lease costs in central or west london?

You're talking hundreds of thousands to be honest.

Best of luck.

thought this was a wind-up or a foreign type scam:yes:

[Amsterdam Russ]

Not so much of a bad idea. Blues bars, rock bars, jazz bars, why not a soul bar? West End is possibly a bit hopeful unless you have deep pockets, of course. And who is to say that norwichbloke does not have such pockets?

There used to be a soul bar on London's Portobello Road about 15 years ago, so the precedent has already been set. Northern Soul is mainstream. For goodness sake, there's even a film about it! Good luck with the venture, that's what I say.

Edited August 5, 2010 by rigilbert

[Guest john s]

Not so much of a bad idea. Blues bars, rock bars, jazz bars, why not a soul bar? West End is possibly a bit hopeful unless you have deep pockets, of course. And who is to say that norwichbloke does not have such pockets?

Maybe if he had, he wouldn't be asking for someone else's pockets!

[Amsterdam Russ]

Don't know about you, but I would not be looking to sink too much of my own money into such a venture - that's exactly what investors are for, to spread the risk & free up capital! Most independent ventures of this sort exist through financial partnerships of one sort or another.

I still say it has a lot of potential...

[Garethx]

It has less than zero potential from so many perspectives.

[Mike]

soul source does dragons den ?

sure people be interested in how you get on

though would guess it needs to be very mainstream

let us know if how it goes

[Soulsmith]

Sadly Gareth is correct.

Although most soulies are happy paying £250 for a tune they will object to paying £4 a pint

Soulies will be over critical on the DJ, music policy, lights, dance floor, food, range of beer etc........ruining a lovely idea!

If you want to make money in a music bar in London your target audience would have to be much younger - around 20 to 40 years.

Thats the age group spending the cash on a regular basis.

[Guest Matt Male]

with the ever groing demand for northern etc from tourists etc

Are you sure? Do you have any evidence for this?

sure people be interested in how you get on

though would guess it needs to be very mainstream

I think the mainstream appeal is the problem. The public get Jazz bars and Rock bars, they understand the concept. Hard Rock Cafe has been going for years and is a global brand. Maybe a Motown bar (unless there already is one) but Northern Soul? Londoners would struggle with it, tourists would be baffled i reckon. I don't know much about business but i would have thought giving the public what they want is one of the first rules of success.

Edited August 6, 2010 by Matt Male

[Corbett80]

'Please deposit £100,000 pound of monies into my personal bank account'

[Garethx]

Pub leases in London are still vastly overvalued, by as much as 40% across the board according to some analysts. The area in which I live in London used to be famous for its pubs. One by one they are all shutting down. Utility supplies like electricity, gas and water have increased in price by practically a third over the last four years. Factor in the effects of the smoking ban and the licensed trade as a whole is in dire straits. The Pub companies who own the freeholds behave like medieval lords of the manor, their area managers swanning around in their BMWs while their tenants, faced with bills they can never pay, quietly contemplate suicide.

It's practically impossible to make a profit on draught beer sales if you are tied to a particular supplier. Most tenanted pubs who still survive tend to do so from food sales, hence the rise of the gastropub. That presents a whole load of other issues which are not particularly relevant to this particular proposition.

My biggest concern with it is that the idea itself is fatally flawed. Music themed pubs as a whole are now an anachronism. One themed on an obscure cult would be doomed to failure.

The soul scene in London is now pathetically small. Annual blow-outs like Soulgate and the 100 Club Anniversary aside most venues struggle to attract customers. If the concept of a Northern Soul themed pub could exist successfully I would have thought an area like Greater Manchester would be a far more viable location.

[Sweeney]

Sorry to sound negative but I'm afraid this would be a quicker way of burning money than err... burning money.

[Guest proudlove]

Pub leases in London are still vastly overvalued, by as much as 40% across the board according to some analysts. The area in which I live in London used to be famous for its pubs. One by one they are all shutting down. Utility supplies like electricity, gas and water have increased in price by practically a third over the last four years. Factor in the effects of the smoking ban and the licensed trade as a whole is in dire straits. The Pub companies who own the freeholds behave like medieval lords of the manor, their area managers swanning around in their BMWs while their tenants, faced with bills they can never pay, quietly contemplate suicide.

It's practically impossible to make a profit on draught beer sales if you are tied to a particular supplier. Most tenanted pubs who still survive tend to do so from food sales, hence the rise of the gastropub. That presents a whole load of other issues which are not particularly relevant to this particular proposition.

My biggest concern with it is that the idea itself is fatally flawed. Music themed pubs as a whole are now an anachronism. One themed on an obscure cult would be doomed to failure.

The soul scene in London is now pathetically small. Annual blow-outs like Soulgate and the 100 Club Anniversary aside most venues struggle to attract customers. If the concept of a Northern Soul themed pub could exist successfully I would have thought an area like Greater Manchester would be a far more viable location.

Actually Gtr Manchester isn't a bad idea............................after all look at all the tourists that visit the Wheel for the Sunday sessions......................The Hacienda was at the other end of Whitworth St ,so maybe a Club themed bar...................hmm food for thought maybe?

[Guest]

Have you any idea what a lease costs in central or west london?

You're talking hundreds of thousands to be honest.

Best of luck.

A conservative estimate at that!

[Prophonics 2029]

I have seen an empty shop in between Ann Summers and Mc Donalds, it has an old carpet on the floor with meat pies and Locazade stains a plenty, on a short lease.

Just out of interest anyone remember if the casino had a phone in the record bar or am I going mad. A public phone box ?

Edited August 6, 2010 by Prophonics 2029

[Guest in town Mikey]

Sorry to add to the negativity, but I agree it would be a hard road to hoe.

Maybe a chat with the owners of Smersh in Shoreditch (Does Danny still own it? Is it still called Smersh?) or the landlord of the mod pub in Behtnal Green (name escapes), may alleviate our fears, or they could confirm our Hesitations.

The Soul and mod scene have regular haunts already. Just not overly publicised

[Paul McKay]

Smersh is now called The Three Blind Mice, still smells, still gets flooded regularly and still hosts a small number Soul night - Majestic Soul. See events.

[Prophonics 2029]

Sorry to add to the negativity, but I agree it would be a hard road to hoe.

Maybe a chat with the owners of Smersh in Shoreditch (Does Danny still own it? Is it still called Smersh?) or the landlord of the mod pub in Behtnal Green (name escapes), may alleviate our fears, or they could confirm our Hesitations.

The Soul and mod scene have regular haunts already. Just not overly publicised

Think it was or is the Star of Bethnal Green but it has changed names and could be hands as well.

[Steve G]

I thought there was a Motown bar in Portobello Rd or something?

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

I have seen an empty shop in between Ann Summers and Mc Donalds, it has an old carpet on the floor with meat pies and Locazade stains a plenty, on a short lease.

Just out of interest anyone remember if the casino had a phone in the record bar or am I going mad. A public phone box ?

Yes,there was a public phone in the corner of the Casino Record bar(remember complaining that it didn,t work) and been told "Who the bloody hell do you wanna ring at 4 a,m!!!"

T.C.

[Harry Crosby]

Yes,there was a public phone in the corner of the Casino Record bar(remember complaining that it didn,t work) and been told "Who the bloody hell do you wanna ring at 4 a,m!!!"

T.C.

ANYBODY WHO`LL LISTEN sorry off topic i know, just couldn`t resist

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

ANYBODY WHO`LL LISTEN sorry off topic i know, just couldn`t resist

Think when i got connected H. i had a conversation about the merits of a 24 hr clock with the speaking clock for 2 hours!!!

T.C.

[Amsterdam Russ]

I thought there was a Motown bar in Portobello Rd or something?

Yes, there was. I mentioned it earlier. A popular haunt with the tourists and the many casual visitors to the market. It became something of a hang out for the local Portobello Road drug dealers as I recall. Jim Demetriou dj'd there on a good number of occasions - had a regular weekly slot for a while. I spun a few with him, but only once or twice. One night the bar manager, who obviously didn't have a clue about soul music, but had been instructed to ensure the DJ's stayed in line, started getting shirty about my choice of 45s - you can't play that sort of music in here, he said.

Think it was something non-Motowny like Bobby Bland!

Had my tattoos done just a few doors up at Marc Saint's. In fact, after my first one that's where we went for a drink afterwards. Don't remember much about the rest of the day. God, that must have been 93-94!>

[Garethx]

Yes, there was. I mentioned it earlier. A popular haunt with the tourists and the many casual visitors to the market. It became something of a hang out for the local Portobello Road drug dealers as I recall. Jim Demetriou dj'd there on a good number of occasions - had a regular weekly slot for a while. I spun a few with him, but only once or twice. One night the bar manager, who obviously didn't have a clue about soul music, but had been instructed to ensure the DJ's stayed in line, started getting shirty about my choice of 45s - you can't play that sort of music in here, he said.

Think it was something non-Motowny like Bobby Bland!

Had my tattoos done just a few doors up at Marc Saint's. In fact, after my first one that's where we went for a drink afterwards. Don't remember much about the rest of the day. God, that must have been 93-94!>

It opened its doors as The Motown Bar but quickly became known as The Soul Bar after a legal intervention from Universal Music. I recall the opening night as being quite exciting. I think the licensee was a bloke called (if memory serves) Dennis, whose day job was as the Market Inspector. He was a transplanted northerner and a sometime regular at the 100 Club. Jim D had a weekly residency there for a few years as did another mate of mine, Gordon King from Stockport. I played records there for both of them but in truth it was a tough place to get any reaction from the 'crowd' (often no more than five or six people) to anything more demanding than the most obvious Motown or Stax hits. Despite living up the road from the place it was never somewhere you would gladly go for a quiet drink. The situation with the dealers was pretty much as you've mentioned above. Years later another acquaintance of mine, Sophie from Brighton, took on the license. She persevered with it as a kind of 'world music' bar (pot plants and Gilberto Gil CDs) but it was difficult to ever make a success of it. It's still open and seems to be some kind of bar/cafe attempting to cater for the local trustafarians.

[Mike]

It opened its doors as The Motown Bar but quickly became known as The Soul Bar after a legal intervention from Universal Music. I recall the opening night as being quite exciting. I think the licensee was a bloke called (if memory serves) Dennis, whose day job was as the Market Inspector. He was a transplanted northerner and a sometime regular at the 100 Club. Jim D had a weekly residency there for a few years as did another mate of mine, Gordon King from Stockport. I played records there for both of them but in truth it was a tough place to get any reaction from the 'crowd' (often no more than five or six people) to anything more demanding than the most obvious Motown or Stax hits. Despite living up the road from the place it was never somewhere you would gladly go for a quiet drink. The situation with the dealers was pretty much as you've mentioned above. Years later another acquaintance of mine, Sophie from Brighton, took on the license. She persevered with it as a kind of 'world music' bar (pot plants and Gilberto Gil CDs) but it was difficult to ever make a success of it. It's still open and seems to be some kind of bar/cafe attempting to cater for the local trustafarians.

I think I went there once before the100club

tommy hunt doing a pa ?

was well expensive was my verdict

i bought a double round for about 5 of us and it cleaned me out

[Ady Croasdell]

The Motown gaff was owned by an oldish Wolvo bloke, who had frequented the Cats. He never came to the 100 Club but was speeding away merrily when I saw him. He collected the rents from all the market stalls on Portobello Rd.

Boy George's brother was a regular!

[Garethx]

The Motown gaff was owned by an oldish Wolvo bloke, who had frequented the Cats. He never came to the 100 Club but was speeding away merrily when I saw him. He collected the rents from all the market stalls on Portobello Rd.

Boy George's brother was a regular!

Apologies for labelling him a 100 Club regular, but Wolverhampton is the north. I remember him telling me that his soul music dream was to entice Benny Troy to these shores and have him do "I Wanna Give You Tomorrow" backed by the full Joe Loss Orchestra.

[Amsterdam Russ]

I recall seeing Boy George's brother there a few times. Had no idea who he was. People would just point him out and say "That's Boy George's brother"! Must have been quite upsetting for him!

The point is though that bars are opening up all the time, so why not one with Northern Soul as a major influence. Sod catering for the Northern Soul crowd though, you couldn't expect to make a living out of them because they'd just be griping all the time about the price of beer, the toilets, the music policy, or whatever. On top of that you'd have factions; some who'd sit on the left of the bar, and others who'd only sit on the right.

Market it to tourists domestically and internationally - to the Japanese, for example - and maybe you could do quite well. Play all the endless Wigan video clips morning, noon and night, have some Northern SDoul dance classes (much in the same way as 50s clubs have been teaching people to Lindy hop, etc, for years), have a rack of CD's, reissue vinyl and books on the subject (sponsored by Ace or Kent, obviously).

Don't forget the Wigan T-shirts or T-shirts with any sort of Northern Soul-associated logo on it, and away you go! Beyond that, have live soul nights, with new and up-and-coming talent, which would allow you to become a showcase for the best young, modern soul acts today. That in itself would allow you to create a revenue stream not dependant on the 'Northern Soul' brand name. Instead you would be creating a 'Soul' venue and, with persistence, would have a reputation as such, which would bring in even more people even further removed from anything so old-fashioned as 'Northern'.

Easy...

[Pete45]

I recall seeing Boy George's brother there a few times. Had no idea who he was. People would just point him out and say "That's Boy George's brother"! Must have been quite upsetting for him!

The point is though that bars are opening up all the time, so why not one with Northern Soul as a major influence. Sod catering for the Northern Soul crowd though, you couldn't expect to make a living out of them because they'd just be griping all the time about the price of beer, the toilets, the music policy, or whatever. On top of that you'd have factions; some who'd sit on the left of the bar, and others who'd only sit on the right.

Market it to tourists domestically and internationally - to the Japanese, for example - and maybe you could do quite well. Play all the endless Wigan video clips morning, noon and night, have some Northern SDoul dance classes (much in the same way as 50s clubs have been teaching people to Lindy hop, etc, for years), have a rack of CD's, reissue vinyl and books on the subject (sponsored by Ace or Kent, obviously).

Don't forget the Wigan T-shirts or T-shirts with any sort of Northern Soul-associated logo on it, and away you go! Beyond that, have live soul nights, with new and up-and-coming talent, which would allow you to become a showcase for the best young, modern soul acts today. That in itself would allow you to create a revenue stream not dependant on the 'Northern Soul' brand name. Instead you would be creating a 'Soul' venue and, with persistence, would have a reputation as such, which would bring in even more people even further removed from anything so old-fashioned as 'Northern'.

Easy...

Fancy setting one up in Amsterdam Russ ? just need to win the two big lotto's that are happening this week end

Pete.

[Citizen P]

Actually Gtr Manchester isn't a bad idea............................after all look at all the tourists that visit the Wheel for the Sunday sessions......................The Hacienda was at the other end of Whitworth St ,so maybe a Club themed bar...................hmm food for thought maybe?

"The Twisted Hacienda"

Are you in Steve??

Or a Rowntrees revival;)

ATB

Tony

[Guest Ollie Lailey]

There was a "Motown Soul Bar" in Catford. Don't think it's still there.

Went to a boozer on Ady Luptons stag do in Bangor that had a Northern Soul theme to it.

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

There was a "Motown Soul Bar" in Catford. Don't think it's still there.

Went to a boozer on Ady Luptons stag do in Bangor that had a Northern Soul theme to it.

Re; the Soul Bar in Catford(it had the front half of a Cadillac sticking out of the wall above the front door) we went in ther about1998 when i went to watch Bradford vs,London(Rugby League at Charlton) and were told we cud only have a drink if we ordered ameal (altho the 4 people sat down we not eating) the music was Hip-Hop -We went to a local type boozer down the road and when i repeated the tale----i was told well you,re the wrong colour(white) to get served in there-----Glad it.s gone

N.B-i,ve still got a photo of the outside!!

T.C.

[TOAD]

that place in bangor was run by mikey and faith a couple of welsh soulies

yeah the juke box was full of northern and free a nice boozer it is.

[Dave Rimmer]

It opened its doors as The Motown Bar but quickly became known as The Soul Bar after a legal intervention from Universal Music. I recall the opening night as being quite exciting. I think the licensee was a bloke called (if memory serves) Dennis, whose day job was as the Market Inspector. He was a transplanted northerner and a sometime regular at the 100 Club. Jim D had a weekly residency there for a few years as did another mate of mine, Gordon King from Stockport. I played records there for both of them but in truth it was a tough place to get any reaction from the 'crowd' (often no more than five or six people) to anything more demanding than the most obvious Motown or Stax hits. Despite living up the road from the place it was never somewhere you would gladly go for a quiet drink. The situation with the dealers was pretty much as you've mentioned above. Years later another acquaintance of mine, Sophie from Brighton, took on the license. She persevered with it as a kind of 'world music' bar (pot plants and Gilberto Gil CDs) but it was difficult to ever make a success of it. It's still open and seems to be some kind of bar/cafe attempting to cater for the local trustafarians.

The guy that owned it was called Maurice (and I can't remember his surname). He wasn't the Market Inspector, but he owned a lot of the stalls on Portobello Rd market. That's what his original business was, market stalls. He eventually worked his way up to opened the 'in-shops' indoor market chain, and ended up a millionaire. So when he reached 50, he decided to do what he wanted rather than work all the time, so he opened the bar. I remember him saying he was willing to lose up to fifty grand before he gave up on the idea. I DJed there quite a few months before the 100 Club, but he had to close because the local drug dealers had a bit of a shoot out in the bar

The next I heard about him was he had bought the site of the old waterworks in Nottingham for 4 million and sold it on for 7 million, couple of weeks later he turned up at my door in a Rolls Royce and we went out for a beer down the local

Last I heard of him was when he made the TV news because he had been tortured by some guys that broke into his house in the Midlands. That was probably about three years ago.

[Garethx]

The guy that owned it was called Maurice (and I can't remember his surname). He wasn't the Market Inspector, but he owned a lot of the stalls on Portobello Rd market. That's what his original business was, market stalls. He eventually worked his way up to opened the 'in-shops' indoor market chain, and ended up a millionaire. So when he reached 50, he decided to do what he wanted rather than work all the time, so he opened the bar. I remember him saying he was willing to lose up to fifty grand before he gave up on the idea. I DJed there quite a few months before the 100 Club, but he had to close because the local drug dealers had a bit of a shoot out in the bar

The next I heard about him was he had bought the site of the old waterworks in Nottingham for 4 million and sold it on for 7 million, couple of weeks later he turned up at my door in a Rolls Royce and we went out for a beer down the local

Last I heard of him was when he made the TV news because he had been tortured by some guys that broke into his house in the Midlands. That was probably about three years ago.

Maurice: that's it. Brilliant info Dave. Thanks for clearing up a few gaps in my memory. He was a bit of a character and seemed to wear a sheepskin coat all year long.

[Guest central soul]

Hi Mate

Personally I think you're as mad as a hatter and you've more chance of getting finance from the tooth fairy than on this site. That said fortunes have been made by people who have been called mad . To that there is only one answer.

GO OUT AND PROVE USE ALL WRONG.

[Raresoul45s]

Maurice: that's it. Brilliant info Dave. Thanks for clearing up a few gaps in my memory. He was a bit of a character and seemed to wear a sheepskin coat all year long.

You're getting confused with Del Trooter well know round that manner

[Guest son of stan]

I can't imagine a place I would like to go to less than a "northern soul" theme bar. Hideous idea. Shudder.

[Guest dave nowell]

A northern soul bar?!?!?!? You must be MAD!!!

Take it from someone who set up and ran a soul-themed bar for three years

I got out with me shirt and me sanity just about intact....................

Me and my missus bought an old building near Blackpool and turned it into a soul-themed bar and restaurant on three floors

Ginger Taylor did the building work, we had Richard Searling's Grapevine demos under glass on the bar and Richard's mate was in charge of the joiners (honestly!). It couldn't fail, could it?

We had an ace sound system and played everything from Gloria Jones to Corey Glover - and loads of commercial soul

In the end all the punters mainly wanted to hear was Motown, George Benson etc. Nowt wrong with that.

We eventually realised that you could count the number of serious soulies in there on two hands

The place was rammed - but not with northern soul fans. They were off to venues, etc instead

Location is important - Poulton le Fylde is on the road to nowhere I suppose, but there are millions of ex-Mecca goers in the area

But don't be fooled into thinking Northern Soul will bring em in from miles around. Motown and commercial soul - yes:

ps

The bar is still going!!!!

and I live in Greater Manchester now

Mmmmmm , there's a thought

[Biggordy]

There's a northern soul bar in Barnsley, South Yorkshire called the Soul Lounge. They have live tribute band type acts on and DJs during the week playing commercial soul and disco with a smattering of Northern oldies. You won't ever hear owt rare in there but it's a good place to have a few pints away from the chav infested boozers in the rest of town.

[Guest martyn]

I have seen an empty shop in between Ann Summers and Mc Donalds, it has an old carpet on the floor with meat pies and Locazade stains a plenty, on a short lease.

Just out of interest anyone remember if the casino had a phone in the record bar or am I going mad. A public phone box ?

Yes there was a phone , I remember being asked by a girl " can I have 2p to phone a friend "? , the lad I was talking to cut in with "here have 4p & phone them all"

Back on subject , I remember the Motown Bar at Universal in Orlando . It's now shut down which kinda says it all .

[Wiggyflat]

There was a "Motown Soul Bar" in Catford. Don't think it's still there.

Went to a boozer on Ady Luptons stag do in Bangor that had a Northern Soul theme to it.

The Motown bar is still in Catford..........looks a bit worn at the moment but is still open.Its only 15 mins away....might pluck up courage to pop in.

[mischief]

The Motown bar is still in Catford..........looks a bit worn at the moment but is still open.Its only 15 mins away....might pluck up courage to pop in.

Mate of mine got slashed in there a few years ago..

never cut him as he pulled away but done his Hugo Boss Leather Jacket .. so he wasn't happy..

I said to him once I might go down there... he told me not to... as I wouldn't fit in..

I think the only thing Soul related ... "as we know it" is the name... may be better off in another pub round there...

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

Mate of mine got slashed in there a few years ago..

never cut him as he pulled away but done his Hugo Boss Leather Jacket .. so he wasn't happy..

I said to him once I might go down there... he told me not to... as I wouldn't fit in..

I think the only thing Soul related ... "as we know it" is the name... may be better off in another pub round there...

As i said earlier my missus and i were made to feel very unwelcome in there!!

Tony

[Guest Goldwax]

The theme bar idea is not going to be a turn on for the few Rare Soul die hards in London. NS T-shirts and Casino mugs? Why not call it Planet Northern Soul? The only successful 'themed' bar in the central London area I can think of that could possibly be used as a business model to emulate would be 'Ain't Nothing But the Blues' on Kingly Street. Regular live acts in an atmospheric divey bar in a location that attracts a blend of blues enthusiasts out of towners & tourists. They turn over a mix of acts from UK / Europe as well as US based artists seeking recognition this side of the pond. It would be great to see a similar Soul based venue run with an open mind encompassing Soul Music form all eras with live acts dropping in from all over (and given a very large lottery win I would probably give it a go myself) but I suspect it would need a lot of capital, time and hard work to get off the ground.

[Bossfourpart1]

financial backer wanted for northern soul bar in central or west london(oxford st area),

with the ever groing demand for northern etc from tourists etc and the increasing allnighters happening in london it would be great to have a permanant venue to visit during regular and after allnighter hours,therefore im looking for someone to back me financially i.e lease and interior refurb(6ts soul style)

i have been in the trade for 22years on and off and know my stuff also my soul,i am a personal license holder also certified in cellar managment and dps supervisor certified,look forward to hearing from any interested parties,sincerly ali derees mobile 07909552109

Nice idea ,

cannot finance it myself but like the idea of a soul bar .

I believe Ali from Norwich is running a bar in London (not central ) and he was promoting the soul theme where possible. Yoou could tap into the scooter scene / Mods and so on . Getting some youth into work there would help especially if they are interested in the theme subject matter too. It all helps to promote it .

Good luck and i hope you find some backers who can afford to take a gamble.

cheers Frank (Norwich Backstreet )

p.s. who are you ? "Norwichbloke":thumbsup:

[Guest rasfoz]

Nice idea ,

cannot finance it myself but like the idea of a soul bar .

I believe Ali from Norwich is running a bar in London (not central ) and he was promoting the soul theme where possible. Yoou could tap into the scooter scene / Mods and so on . Getting some youth into work there would help especially if they are interested in the theme subject matter too. It all helps to promote it .

Good luck and i hope you find some backers who can afford to take a gamble.

cheers Frank (Norwich Backstreet )

p.s. who are you ? "Norwichbloke":thumbsup:

I think it is ali frank :lol:

[Northern Soul Uk]

I think and far better idea would be a coffee bar, as in the old days the mods and soulies always used to have a fave coffee bar to haunt.

Less to set up, and you're not depending on alcohol sales to earn a crust. Of course you have the health, safety and cleanliness issues to contend with, but selling food and hot and cold drinks would be far more profitable than alcohol. Then of course you could theme it on soul or Motown??

Edited August 13, 2010 by steveluigi

[Jordirip]

I think you could only make this work if it is a very stylish bar, in the style that a lot of European bars do so well, a lot of mod and post mod references and style from 50's,60's & 70's films, design, clothes and recording artistes. This would be appealing to a younger, stylish crowd who as well as enjoying the look and style of the place, would absorb and enjoy the music being played.

If it is styled like a Wigan Casino throwback with all the car boot tat for sale at Prestatyn, pictures of Arthur Scargill Russ Winstanley on the walls, with bouncers on the door wearing baggies and beer towels, then I don't think it will catch on to be honest and if anything add more ridicule onto the scene. Just my opinion.

Jordi