Ministry of Sound is bringing its new bar concept to Birmingham and becomes the latest in a number of high profile names to commit to leisure outlets in the city.
The London-based, world-famous nightclub operator, which is undertaking a £3m expansion into the regions is to open in a former nightclub, known as the Church, on Broad Street. This follows the news that nearby at Argent’s Brindleyplace top restaurant operators Bank and Petit Blanc will be opening this year.
The Ministry of Sound will be operating its Birmingham bar as a franchise. It has already secured a site for a bar in central Manchester and is targeting Glasgow for a further operation. Each of its ‘hi-tech’ bars will feature live music fed directly from the main club at Gaunt Street, South London.
The Bank will open its first regional restaurant at No 4 Brindleyplace in a 836 sq m (9,000 sq ft) unit which will have a canalside terrace and open onto the development’s main central square. It has signed a 25 year lease.
Chef Raymond Blanc’s Le Petit Blanc is to open in a 696 sq m (7,500 sq ft) unit at No 9 Brindleyplace, fronting onto Oozzells Square, and will become the third operation in the UK. Again, it has signed a 25-year lease.
ALIGN=”JUSTIFY”>Raymond Blanc commented: “Birmingham is re-inventing itself and the excitement and buzz that goes with all these changes creates an ideal atmosphere for us. Le Petit Blanc will provide people with a high quality, stylish brasserie and we look forward to welcoming guests from throughout the West Midlands.”
Gary Taylor, director of Brindleyplace said: “We have been looking to attract the very best restaurants to the city for many years to reflect our increasing stature as a major European city. We now have one of the most famous international chefs investing in Birmingham, with Le Petit Blanc adding a new dimension to the citys cuisine.”
Davis Coffer Lyons and GVA Grimley are joint agents on the restaurant space at Brindleyplace.
ALIGN=”JUSTIFY”>EGi News 09/04/99
