Cooke & Arkwright
News
Beatbox beats the recession
16/03/2010
One of Cardiff’s best known city centre landmark buildings, which has been empty since October 2007, is to get a new lease of life after Cooke & Arkwright negotiated a long term letting to Beatbox Bars Ltd. The Grade 11 listed former South Glamorgan Staff Club in Westgate Street is undergoing a complete re-fit by Beatbox, which already runs three of Cardiff’s most successful independent gastro-bars: Buffalo in Windsor Place, 10 Feet Tall in Church Street and Mr Smith’s in Cathays.
Daniel Biscombe, a partner at Beatbox Bars said that award winning designer, Lee Broom, who’s design for 10 Feet Tall was shortlisted for ‘Contemporary Bar Design of the Year’ by Theme magazine, was working on the blueprint for their new venture at Westgate Street. The venue is planned to open late 2010. While the name and exact details are being kept a closely guarded secret, Mr Biscombe says it will offer something different and exciting for the Cardiff scene. He says they were attracted by the period of the building and its unique setting.
“Although it is a bit shabby at the moment, it is a beautiful old building with many original features both inside and out. Furthermore the location is excellent, right in the middle of town next to the Millennium Stadium,” he said.
Huw Thomas of Cooke & Arkwright said that the property extends to 5,300 sq ft over three floors. “We are delighted that Mr Biscombe and his partners are breathing new life into this well known Victorian building,” he said. “We were seeking to identify a quality occupier and believe that as one of Cardiff’s leading independent operators, Beatbox Bars will make this a prime destination in the city.”
Beatbox Bars is run by a group of friends who worked their way up through the licensed trade. Daniel Biscombe, Nathan Vaughan, Ian Dakin, Claire Biscombe and Alex Power spotted a gap in the market in 2004 and seized the opportunity to form a company and acquire their first premises. Buffalo opened in 2005 and 10 Feet Tall followed in 2008. 10 Feet Tall offers an extensive Spanish and Mediterranean Basin themed menu , complimented by a wide variety of world beers ,new world wines and cocktails. The decor varies from vintage and modern, casual and laidback, to a more intimate dining experience. Wi-fi access, daily newspapers and a heated pavement cafe are also on offer. Buffalo, on the other hand, offers a range of world cuisine with a contemporary twist, with a covered beer garden to the rear.
“Our backgrounds are primarily in venue management,” said Mr Biscombe. “We try to ensure that all aspects of our offering – food, drinks and live entertainment – are market leading.”
This approach appears to be working: their expansion continues apace despite the recession. The company has recently acquired and refitted a further premises on Woodville Road, formerly the Funky Buddha, which opened as ‘Mr Smith’s’ in October 2009.
Pictured: Beatbox 04 and 15, l to r: Ian Dakin, Daniel Biscombe, Claire Biscombe, Nathan Vaughan and Alex Power, all of Beatbox Bars; and Huw Thomas, Cooke & Arkwright