Stonegate to bring Popworld to Guildford
The bar will take the place of an existing Stonegate venue, Flares, on Bridge Street. The company is investing over £185,000 in the transformation, and will open the new-look bar on 28 February.
Playing back-to-back pop music from the 90s to present, Popworld will feature a state-of-the art sound and lighting system, with a large dancefloor. The bar will serve a cocktail menu of ‘poptails’ ranging from Sex on a Beach to Dandelion and Burdock, American Cream Soda and Love Hearts. A range of bombs shots and mini cocktails will also be available.
A VIP area will include several VIP booths with their own private dancefloor and waitress service, aimed at encouraging large groups to pre-book.
Popworld concept
The Guildford venue will bring the total number of bars under Stonegate’s Popworld brand to eight, with existing sites in Liverpool, Birmingham, Preston, Sheffield, Southampton, Swansea, Wolverhampton and York.
“We’re really excited about launching Popworld in Guildford and know it will be a great success. Response to Popworld in other towns it has launched in has been phenomenal and there is already a real buzz about it in the town,” said general manager Aaron Findlator.
“The idea behind Popworld is that it offers fantastic customer service; a great range of drinks from sharing cocktails, which we call Partini’s, to premium bottle serves for large groups of friends. The music is of course the highlight. The only rule about our playlist is that it should get you up on the dance floor so you never want to stop!”
Popworld will host a VIP champagne and cocktail reception for local businesses on 27 February, with Simon Webbe and Duncan James from Blue putting in an appearance alongside stiltwalkers and fire-breathers.
“Duncan and Simon have had huge success again since The Big Reunion and have a massive fan base so we are particularly delighted that they will be joining us for our opening night,” said Findlator
Once open, the bar will host regular celebrity appearances and live music events. It will open from Monday to Wednesday from 9pm until 1am and Thursday to Saturday from 9am until 2am.
Stonegate investments
Other recent investments for Stonegate, which owns and operates over 600 pubs and bars across the UK, include the £240,000 development of a Missoula – Montana Bar & Grill in York.
The bar and restaurant, which opened last week, serves craft ales, whiskies and wines alongside a American-style menu with breakfasts, ribs, steaks, burgers and sides.
Stonegate also recently spent £220,000 on renovating its Canvey Island pub, Lobster Smack pub, which re-opened earlier this month with a ‘greater focus on freshly prepared food’.
Changes to the pub’s interior include an increased dining space and a refurbished upstairs bar with pool table and pub games. A new menu features classic pub grub alongside Italian and Spanish dishes and British roast dinners, as well as a special selection of meals under 500 calories.
