|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Liane Castle, 27 April 2023.
Work starts on new music venue and nightclub The Art Club in Dover’s
Market Square.
Work has started to create a new music venue and nightclub in a
former estate agents.
The Art Club, set for Dover, will also host a cafe and work space
and those behind it hope to attract headline acts from the world of
music, art and comedy to the town.
CGIs show how the inside of The Art Club could look once open.
Picture: Travis Skelton.
It will take over an empty unit previously used by Bairstow Eves
estate agent in the recently renovated Market Square.
DJs Travis Skelton, Alfy Dunne and Rory Pye are behind the project
and hope to transform the venue ready for a summer opening.
Mr Dunne, 22, said: “We want to rejuvenate the town and create
something people want to come out for.
“I hope people will see it as something to look forward to.”
During the day, The Art Club will be a cafe with a co-working space,
but by the time evening rolls in, it will become a bar with live
music and events.
Alfy Dunne and Travis Skelton are launching The Art Club in Market
Square, Dover, with friend Rory Pye.
It can also be stripped down to become a nightclub at the weekend as
the team have a late night licence until 3am.
The trio have been working in events for the past six years and are
behind Section 82 festival, held in Dover.
The Art Club will be an extension to this, giving them a permanent
base to host more regular events as they feel there is a need for
more creative arts in the town.
“There is not anywhere in Dover that does what we want to do,” said
Mr Skelton, 25.
“Most people will travel to London if they want a night out but we
want to start bringing some headliners to Dover, to make the music
scene better than it currently is.
“A decent, local night out is just non-existent in Dover and we want
to bring out the next generation of music artists and DJs.”
Mr Dunne added: “We want to do events pretty much every weekend with
a headline act once a month, at least.
“It’s not just music either, we want to host comedy events, open mic
nights and everything in between.
“It’s called The Art Club because we want to cover all creative arts
and be diverse.”
They chose the unit in Market Square as they feel it has become a
“hotspot” after recent investment to transform the look of the area
costing £3.6 million.
The three friends hope to bring something new to Dover.
A water feature with four rings has been installed and the square
now has a paved space for performance, more seating and lighting
making it more pedestrian friendly.
Mr Dunne said: “The council is putting a lot of money into the town.
“It’s a good hotspot; it gets a lot of footfall. We are on the
corner so we want to make it look nice and inviting for people.”
CGIs have been released which show how the inside of the venue could
look, with seating, DJ booth and bar shown.
Once renovations are complete, there will also be a small pop-up
kitchen were chefs can rent the space at different times to
diversity the menu.
Tables can be cleared away to turn it into a nightclub. Picture: Travis Skelton.
The Art Club will open from 8am to 11pm during the week and close at
3am on weekends.
This is not the only change to Dover’s nightlife in recent months.
Nearby venue "Rhino and Bull’s" has applied to extend its opening
hours to 3am at weekends instead of the current 1am.
And in March, a decision was made forcing the "Attic Bar" in Church
Street to close earlier following two reports of affray.
This came just months after its opening hours were extended.
|
