BELFAST

BAMBU BEACH

VENUES, OCTOBER 2006, COMMENTS

Bambu Beach Club in Belfast is the latest in a series of refurbishments undertaken by operators Ultimate Leisure over the summer months, following a period of acquisition that saw the purchase of three Prohibition units in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, and two Destiny units from the Nightclub Company. After the widely reported period of internal restructuring in 2005, the newly appointed MD Mark Jones launched his tenure by investing £5m across the 35 strong estate, giving foremost attention to the company’s flagship brand: Blu Bambu. Originally a Hawaiian themed mainstream concept for Newcastle’s Bigg Market, featuring bikini clad dancers and a beach hut interior, successive incarnations of Blu Bambu have downplayed the hard edged hula for a more conventional mainstream look. Jones has earmarked various units for modernisation, the first being Sunderland’s Blu Bambu, with Belfast’s Bambu Beach Club arriving hot on its heals.

The changes have not just been cosmetic. Audiotek have installed a focal point effects rig above the dance floor and a brand new Turbosound system to bring the club in line with the highest standards of mainstream clubbing. Les Farmer of 1Media, who designed the club’s technological installation, has also come up with a large scale audio visual concept that delivers an integrated multi media system that will drop jaws on the dancefloor. New to the Blu Bambu concept, a full colour laser has also been installed, delivering on Jones’ commitment to introducing new technologies to the brand.

The first phases of establishing this new identity has been handled by O:Donnell O:Neill Design Associates, who have provided design models for future versions of the brand in conjunction with UItimate’s design teams. While the Blu Bambu in Sunderland is described by project designer Graham O’Donnell as “more Phuket than Bondi Beach”, the Belfast unit is evocative of a more Indonesian style.

It is a return visit to Belfast’s enourmous Odyssey entertainment complex for Graham, having designed the first Bambu Beach in 2002. The original layout has been kept, says Graham, with the open and free flowing design perfected in the lengthy concept work of 2002. Two downstairs bars serve a sunken dance floor and bar area, with the drinking space punctuated by round tables and loose cream stools to provide a sociable, ground floor pre-club area. On the club’s second floor, a gallery area makes for a quieter vantage point from which weary customers can observe the action or enjoy a candle-lit cocktail from spacious leather beds.

“For what was an already hugely successful venue, many of the changes are subtle and subliminal,” says Graham. “We have created some stand-out design features. The main impact is felt at the new entrance in the ground floor chill bar area, which can now be utilized as a pre-club bar. Here, the new double height glazed wall affords some stunning views into the main club’s entrance foyer, while the fibre-optic chandeliers and elegant decorative lighting over the bars deliver the required look to the venue.“

Graham explained that the distinction between a ‘themed’ and ‘stylised’ venue was also of immense importance to the future direction of the brand.

“At both the Sunderland and Belfast units the stylized direction is evident, replacing some of the original beach theme of the Blu Bambu brand with a slightly softer edge that is evocative of an Indonesian style. This style is perhaps best represented by the soft furnishings and luxury finishes. Relaxing day beds in the first floor chill out area look down over the buzz of activity in the pre-club and member’s area. Damask embossed carpeted areas give a slightly funky feel underfoot, and have been combined with translucent gold voile drapes to create a sense of theatre to the operation. The prevalent colours and finishes include rich dark brown timbers, gold voile drapes with flashes of striking blues and ambers coming through at the new back bars.”

The main dance floor is dominated by Audiotek’s lighting installation, which has been mounted on two of Litestructure’s AstraLite five metre circular trusses. The rigs include both new and reconditioned lighting fixtures, retaining the hard working Martin Wizards and MX 10 Extremes, as well as 16 Coemar Pro Spot 150s and eight Pro Wash 150s. The old fixtures are joined by four 575 and eight 250 Silver Star moving heads, with drama added courtesy of both the Martin Pro Atomic Strobes and 247 Haze machines as well as the laser. Behind the bars, the ceiling high displays of bottles are silhouetted by strips of colour changing LEDs, supplied by Lighting Effects Dirstribution.

The club’s existing Turbosound and JBL installation has also been extended. Two new TQ 425 Bass Bins have been added around the floor for extra power, while the ground floor pre-club benefits from Turbosound TCS 151 Mid range speakers and the lighter sounding Turbosound TC5 115 Bass Bins. The new system is powered by T45 Amplifiers.

Audiotek’s Frank Murray also implemented 1Media’s audio visual installation around the main bar and dance floor. A VME video presentation system allows messaging, adverts and idents to scroll over the main content of in house photography and music videos. 1Media will continue to provide the venue with updated graphic presentations on a weekly basis.

“We’re really pleased with the way our technology has been installed by Audiotek,” said Les Farmer. “The lighting and AV systems look full on and have been really wowing the crowds.”

The overall effect is one of elegance and fun, with two Antari Maxi Bubble Machines and a Factor Maxi Confetti Cannon giving a sense of occasion to the policy of student nights and traffic light parties that have been held for the first week of the academic year. With the club up and running for the busy fresher’s period, the design and installation talent have created an archetypal version of Ultimate’s brand.

Words: Leo Batchelor

Images: Jim Ellam

From: October 2006 Issue

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