A look around the new...
BURTON NIGHTSPOT OPENS TODAY AND IS FOR OVER-21S ONLY
A NEW bar based in an historic cinema in Burton is set to open today. And the Burton Mail has been granted an exclusive first look at the Lifestyle Bar in the former Robins Cinema in Guild Street.
Inside there are two bars, including one for cocktails. The bar is a nod to the former cinema that occupied the building, with some of the old seats re-used and the bar has an artdeco style inside, in-keeping with the listed old cinema.
The bar will be for over-21s only. Revellers will be asked for ID to get inside, as they want to appeal to an older clientele.
It will have entertainment with DJ sets as well as live music nights. Project manager Ben Heathcote said there were some challenges, but he was excited to see the new bar take shape.
There will even be a cocktail called The Ritz which is Cognac, Triple Sec, lemon juice and Champagne.
Ben said: “We have some spots for social media [where revellers can take their photos inside the venue] as I think the owners are pushing for that. There are good spots to get your Instagram posts in.
“I think the biggest challenge was the ceiling tiles. We spent over £20,000 on LED lighting and everything was custom-made.
“The theme that we were going for was dark tropical with accents of neon. The lighting can change colour to match the vibe. There are some things we had to keep, such as the Robins sign outside as well as the tiling in the entrance hall, which are both listed.
“It was very exciting to get involved in the challenge to orgainse all the different aspects. Everything was bespoke.
“With a crowd of around 20, we have been working hard for the last three and a half months, including flooring guys, electricians and carpenters. We’re just hoping the people of Burton react positively to it.”
Assistant bar manager and head mixologist Kat Beacham has said she is getting ready with a unique
cocktail menu. She said that the vibe for the bar will be relaxed with a nod to the building’s past.
She said: “The whole aim and idea is to bring this building back to life. We want a fun and laid-back vibe with a relaxed and stress-free environment.
“We do have some signature drinks, including The Ritz. We want to pay tribute to the history of the building from the 1930s, and what better way than to use a cocktail from that time?
“The time of prohibition was where the idea of the cocktail was birthed from.”
The owners of the bar, Ryan James and David Wain, said they were excited and cannot wait for people to come in.
Ryan, from Winshill, said: “I’m excited but very nervous. There are a lot of things going on that we need to sort in the next few days before opening.”
David, from Burton, added: “I’m feeling really good. We have a strict zero-tolerance policy on any violence. We have definitely gone for a tropical art deco with accents of neon vibe.
“If it wasn’t for Ben Heathcote and the electrics team from NXT GEN, led by Stephen Smith, we wouldn’t be where we are.
“They have done a fantastic job. We can’t wait to open the doors and show people what we have done with the place. We’re really excited.” The Ritz building first opened as an opera house in 1935. Since then, it has been best known as Robins Cinema, before it closed in December 1999 after the opening of the new Cineworld multi-screen cinema across the road in Middleway Park. The old cinema building then stood empty until 2014, when the Ritz restaurant opened. It was also Purrocious Cat Cafe, which closed down just before Christmas 2019.
We have definitely gone for a tropical art deco with accents of neon vibe.
Co-owner David Wain