I understand that Liquid is closing in Newbury shortly. According to the parent company, young'uns these days are turning away from the dancefloor and popular culture, instead they're staying in and saving up to go to festivals, watch guitar bands etc.

To my limited knowledge, that leaves the lovely Fever as the only show in town where one can throw some shapes for the ladies.

Anyone else noticed how quiet the town centre is most evenings? You rarely see big groups heading into town of an evening other than racedays.

So maybe there's more to this cafe society thing than meets the eye. Is the nightclub dead?

Montys has just been taken over and re-branded as "Spin" which is a music only venue

Quoted from Muddler

I understand that Liquid is closing in Newbury shortly. According to the parent company, young'uns these days are turning away from the dancefloor and popular culture, instead they're staying in and saving up to go to festivals, watch guitar bands etc.

To my limited knowledge, that leaves the lovely Fever as the only show in town where one can throw some shapes for the ladies.

Anyone else noticed how quiet the town centre is most evenings? You rarely see big groups heading into town of an evening other than racedays.

So maybe there's more to this cafe society thing than meets the eye. Is the nightclub dead?

Maybe it's you "throwing some shapes" that has put them off !

I think it's more to do with the emergence of the pub/club and the change in the licensing hours. The Diamond Tap, The George and Pelican and formerly Monty's, now Spin are all pubs with dancefloors. In addition the Snooty Fox is always busy and has bands playing at the weekend as does the Monument.

Twenty years ago pubs would stop serving at 11pm and you'd have to go on somewhere else to drink and dance, this is no longer the case. Of course there's still a place for specialist nightclubs (no not that kind), where people go to hear a specific genre of music however there doesn't seem to be an appetite for this in Newbury.

Quoted from PaulaM

Maybe it's you "throwing some shapes" that has put them off !

I'm just ahead of my time. All the kids will be dad-dancing soon

Source regarding Liquid closing? Fever started this rumour when they opened, and it still hasn't happened!!!

Quoted from Muddler

I'm just ahead of my time. All the kids will be dad-dancing soon

Dad dancing reached the finals of Britains Got Talent o you are down with the kids.

Quoted from richard.garvie

Source regarding Liquid closing? Fever started this rumour when they opened, and it still hasn't happened!!!

Liquid staff.

Here's a question,

(far be it for me to advertise the local cattle market) (other cattle markets are available) but tonight, (June 10th) all drinks in Liquid are 80p.
Yes, ALL drinks, ALL night.

Anyone know how that will help with our present 'binge-drinking' culture? You know, the one that 'responsible' companies like Liquid are apparently hoping to help eradicate.

Drink Responsibly.


Threep.

Quoted from Threepwood

Here's a question,

(far be it for me to advertise the local cattle market) (other cattle markets are available) but tonight, (June 10th) all drinks in Liquid are 80p.
Yes, ALL drinks, ALL night.

It's difficult to decide which is worst, isn't it?  The mountains of dog shit piling our highways and byways thanks to thoughtless and brain-dead dog owners (there are mountains of it by the canal as I write) or the vomit that Liquid's customers will deposit for Saturday morning shoppers to step over.  My vote is with the former - the vomit depositers are young, stupid, don't know what they're doing and are led on by Liquid's avaricious shareholders.  The dog owners are grown ups and at least semi compos mentis and I'm sure any reasonable person would agree they should be shot on sight.

Quoted from Muddler

Liquid staff.

Liquid will only close if Luminar go bust. Lquid Newbury turns a fairly nice profit. If Luminar did go bust, I'm sure the unit would be snapped up VERY quickly.

Manager of Liquid nightclub on Facebook just now:

Tony Patton
‎// Attention all Newbury DJs & Promoters... Fancy running at night at Liquid? Thursdays now available! Get in touch if you're interested! Message me or Tim Wills!

Would suggest that this rumour is in fact just that.

Quoted from richard.garvie

Manager of Liquid nightclub on Facebook just now:

Tony Patton
‎// Attention all Newbury DJs & Promoters... Fancy running at night at Liquid? Thursdays now available! Get in touch if you're interested! Message me or Tim Wills!

Would suggest that this rumour is in fact just that.

You don't have to be a genius to understand why staff start these rumours. They've lost 20% of customers in the last year, and the ones they've kept are spending less. They're supposed to be improving the music, so I can't see a 'shout out' on FB getting a response from Basshunter. It sounds pretty desperate.

They are renegotiating all their leases with landlords though, so it don't look to be good news for Ye Kennet Centre either way.

But don't take my word....
http://www.luminar.co.uk/docs/default-document-library/Annual%20Report%20(Final)%20(web%20version).pdf

Quoted from richard.garvie

Manager of Liquid nightclub on Facebook just now:

Tony Patton
‎// Attention all Newbury DJs & Promoters... Fancy running at night at Liquid? Thursdays now available! Get in touch if you're interested! Message me or Tim Wills!

Would suggest that this rumour is in fact just that.

Thursdays now available cos we can't afford anyone else.....

If your yardstick for who represents a decent DJ is basshunter. Then the establishment is a whole continent worse than I had imagined it to be.

IMHO basshunter is the biggest no-talent copy cat that I have ever had the displeasure of coming across.
Or maybe I'm just getting old, and still remember how awesome the original's his ripping off (badly) sounded back in the 90's.

Quoted from richard.garvie

Source regarding Liquid closing? Fever started this rumour when they opened, and it still hasn't happened!!!

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=17876

The media always catch up eventually.  

Yeah, the place has gone downhill fast recently, started when they replaced the manager as he was earning too much!!! I wouldn't be surprised if this is a rebranding excercise!!!

Quoted from richard.garvie

Yeah, the place has gone downhill fast recently, started when they replaced the manager as he was earning too much!!! I wouldn't be surprised if this is a rebranding excercise!!!

You're probably right, I guess it will re-open under a different name.

Quoted from user23.3

I think it's more to do with the emergence of the pub/club and the change in the licensing hours. The Diamond Tap, The George and Pelican and formerly Monty's, now Spin are all pubs with dancefloors. In addition the Snooty Fox is always busy and has bands playing at the weekend as does the Monument.

Twenty years ago pubs would stop serving at 11pm and you'd have to go on somewhere else to drink and dance, this is no longer the case. Of course there's still a place for specialist nightclubs (no not that kind), where people go to hear a specific genre of music however there doesn't seem to be an appetite for this in Newbury.

I agree.

When I was a lad, pubs closed at 1030pm or 11pm (depending on the County). If we wanted to continue drinking then we had to go to a nightclub.

If pubs can now stay open until 2am or later, then it somewhat destroys the attraction of a nightclub.

Rgds

All of this / that is very true.

There are however a couple of new phenomena to throw into the mix.

The first concerns young males, and that is this habit of getting into a place early to mid evening and then necking as much as they as fast as they can. I'm sure many of the males on here remember going out and having one in the first pub with a a mate, then moving on to meet up with others etc etc...you'd be looking at maybe a pint in three or four pubs, a catch-up and a laugh and then still being sober enough to decide to either move on to a club or go just home. Now, they just turn up early and immediately start like it's going out of style.

Young  girls do the opposite, they invariably all go round to "Mandy's" or "Tracey's" at 19.30, all carrying Vodka and or cheap Cider, do their hair, make-up, what-have-you, and then proceed to get rat-arsed by about 21.30. (pre-loaded) THEN they go out.

The result is you get already drunk girls descending on somewhere probably full of fairly drunk boys. All of them claiming to be there for a 'good time' yet unable to either enjoy it properly or exercise self discipline if things do go a bit Pete Tong.

None of them seem to mind. The amount of bad behavior they display along with the amount of illness they display on the way home is almost seen as a badge of honour for the evening. Indeed it seems directly proportional to how successful the night has been.

Wasn't it Eric Burdon who sang  "When I think of all the Good Times that I've wasted - having good times?"


Threep.


I do not, of course include all young people in this, but amongst a certain strata it appears almost normal. All bit sad really.

Another possible venue for the new arts centre!  Excellent.

Right next to the cinema and close to the Corn Exchange - we'd have a veritable arts quarter - Newbury's very own left bank.

The bare brick walls provide plenty of scope for artistic expression (see below).  Perhaps we could get something like the 3D paintings shown here.

http://www.cleancutmedia.com/art-design/creativity-amazing-3d-building-art

Hey, it could even be painted to look exactly like the pigeon loft! With trees!  I think, ladies and gentlemen, we have our solution.

Nice, and you're right about the brickwork needing jazzing up. Does anyone know a local architect with a predilection for timber-cladding?

Of course - good point.  Incidentally, note the handy car parks and proximity to public transport routes. As i say, we have our arts pavilion folks. Isn't it nice when a plan comes together?

Quoted from noobree

Of course - good point.  Incidentally, note the handy car parks and proximity to public transport routes. As i say, we have our arts pavilion folks. Isn't it nice when a plan comes together?

Exactly, and you've just saved us thousands of pounds of our money being wasted on another consultation on building in Victoria Park. Surely that's worth an OBE.

Could we ask User nicely to pass on this most excellent suggestion or should one of us write to WBC.

Could be a question on the WBC consultation document.

Where would you like to see a new Arts centre.

1. In a nice green park with views of the Kennet and close to the new Wharf concept, surrounded by cafe, restaurant and cultural centres.
OR
2. On the first floor of a bland brick building with no windows.

Quoted from brian

Could we ask User nicely to pass on this most excellent suggestion or should one of us write to WBC.

Could be a question on the WBC consultation document.

Where would you like to see a new Arts centre.

1. In a nice green park with views of the Kennet and close to the new Wharf concept, surrounded by cafe, restaurant and cultural centres.
OR
2. On the first floor of a bland brick building with no windows.

I really think you ought to work at WBC's "toatally independent straight as a die consultation department".

Quoted from brian

Could we ask User nicely to pass on this most excellent suggestion or should one of us write to WBC.

Could be a question on the WBC consultation document.

Where would you like to see a new Arts centre.

1. In a nice green park with views of the Kennet and close to the new Wharf concept, surrounded by cafe, restaurant and cultural centres.
OR
2. On the first floor of a bland brick building with no windows.

1. Would you like to desecrate a nice green park with views of the Kennet to build a Pigeon Loft to enable councillors and council employees to have a new wine and entertainment club.

Or

2. Utilise a perfectly good building near to council offices (less taxpayers money in travelling expenses) with good road access which will require minimal alteration to make suitable for a wine tipling club ahem arts centre.

Quoted from brian

Where would you like to see a new Arts centre.

1. In a nice green park with views of the Kennet and close to the new Wharf concept, surrounded by cafe, restaurant and cultural centres.
OR
2. On the first floor of a bland brick building with no windows.

My goodness, it's all becoming clear now.  The idea of building the arts centre in the park is so that visitors can enjoy looking out of the windows at what's left of it. And of course, those inside the building won't be able to see it, so there will be every incentive to visit. If only someone had explained this before!  Let's leave all the other brownfield sites I've listed rotting and build it in the park straight away!  Isn't it great when a plan comes together?

Quoted from noobree

Another possible venue for the new arts centre!  Excellent.

Right next to the cinema and close to the Corn Exchange - we'd have a veritable arts quarter - Newbury's very own left bank.

The bare brick walls provide plenty of scope for artistic expression (see below).  Perhaps we could get something like the 3D paintings shown here.

http://www.cleancutmedia.com/art-design/creativity-amazing-3d-building-art

Hey, it could even be painted to look exactly like the pigeon loft! With trees!  I think, ladies and gentlemen, we have our solution.

Could use the soon to be empty Barclays Bank - even nearer to the Corn Exchange.

Quoted from richard.garvie

Yeah, the place has gone downhill fast recently, started when they replaced the manager as he was earning too much!!! I wouldn't be surprised if this is a rebranding excercise!!!

Could you please explain how a change of manager is the catalyst for a nightclub 'going downhill' ?

Quoted from 78

Could you please explain how a change of manager is the catalyst for a nightclub 'going downhill' ?

The replacement manager didn't manage it quite so well?  

You get what you pay for. If a candidate can justify a £100k salary for example, and you replace them with somebody who commands a £30k salary, there is obviously going to be a difference in calibre.

Quoted from richard.garvie

You get what you pay for. If a candidate can justify a £100k salary for example, and you replace them with somebody who commands a £30k salary, there is obviously going to be a difference in calibre.

I understand that.

What I don't understand is what difference it makes to the selling of alcohol & the playing of music at deafening volumes to an audience of 17-30 year olds.

Quoted from 78

I understand that. What I don't understand is what difference it makes to the selling of alcohol & the playing of music at deafening volumes to an audience of 17-30 year olds.

I'm sure that you are not naive enough not to know the answer to that.

Quoted from Greenham Common

I'm sure that you are not naive enough not to know the answer to that.

I must be.

It isn't as if the manager of such an establishment actually has to make any decisions is it?

How do you figure that one? Staffing levels, making use of the facility on other days that the club is not open (renting the rooms to dance clubs, keep fit classes, martial arts groups etc.), stock levels, projecting the number of people through the doors and how many rooms you will open, promoting the venue, marketing, the cost you buy your DJ's in at, security, promotions to get people in (responsible drink offers / theme nights / PA's).

Maybe they should let you run it!!!

However you look at it Luminar seem happy with the manager's performance as they have stated that they will be looking for a new role for him in the company (managing another nightclub they want rid of perhaps?).

Luminar is in a bad way. The guy running it is the guy who took over the Virgin stores and then rebranded them, and then lost everything!!!

Quoted from richard.garvie

How do you figure that one? Staffing levels, making use of the facility on other days that the club is not open (renting the rooms to dance clubs, keep fit classes, martial arts groups etc.), stock levels, projecting the number of people through the doors and how many rooms you will open, promoting the venue, marketing, the cost you buy your DJ's in at, security, promotions to get people in (responsible drink offers / theme nights / PA's).

Maybe they should let you run it!!!

All dictated by head office.  

If the club was a success prior to the latest manager's tenure you don't close it, you replace the manager.

Quoted from 78

All dictated by head office.  If the club was a success prior to the latest manager's tenure you don't close it, you replace the manager.

A decent manger would do that; yes!  

Liquid has always been dire, ever since it opened. It used to be the least worst option for those that wanted to carry on the merriment when the pubs closed. Since the advent of the late licence for pubs there's been no need to move on, hence Liquid moving on I would guess.

It's a shame Avenue didn't succeed, perhaps there's no appetite for that sort of thing in Newbury or perhaps it was in the wrong location.

Quoted from user23.3

It's a shame Avenue didn't succeed, perhaps there's no appetite for that sort of thing in Newbury or perhaps it was in the wrong location.

That was your lot's fault too.

Licensing stipulation of CCTV, two bouncers every night...when there's 20 people dancing. OTT