Celebrities gear-up for opening of £1.4m bar and restaurant in Derby
THE manager of Derby's newest city centre bar and restaurant claims customers visiting the exclusive £1.4m venue will be treated like royalty.
Jamie Somers is masterminding the opening of nono8 Bar, in Wardwick, and has promised a dazzling opening weekend attended by some Premiership footballers and well-known comedians.
But the 33-year-old, who has managed Liverpool venues The Living Room and The Newz Bar and has counted the Sultan of Brunei among his previous guests, said everyone would be treated the same.
Mr Somers said: "The opening weekend will be great.
"There are certain celebrities who have committed themselves to coming along and there's a major A-lister who owes me a big favour too.
"But everyone will be treated the same, whether it's opening night or a Wednesday afternoon six months later.
"My ethos is 'nothing is too much trouble'.
"Be it a Derby County footballer or someone who has saved up for a really nice night out, everyone is welcome."
The premiere weekend for nono8 Bar, which is opening in the former Spectrum Interiors building and will have a staff of 50, will be held on November 28 and 29.
A 13-week project is under way to completely overhaul the interior of the building and "create character", overseen by directors Steve Barker, Phil Simpson and Leon Groom.
The venue has a licence to open seven days a week and until 4am at weekends, although Mr Somers said it would probably shut at 3am.
Security is a key issue for Mr Somers, who used to be a musical dancer in the West End.
He said: "We have just employed a top firm, Rhino Security Services Ltd, and they will be bringing the best doormen in.
"We want to make Derby a safe place to go out for a drink and will work alongside other bars to make that happen."
Mr Somers also said that the city could be used as a template to open a chain of nono8 Bars across England.
"This is the first nono8 Bar. The reason it is called nono8 is because firstly we kept disagreeing about what to call the place and secondly it is 2008.
"We have been talking with Derby County and the players will hopefully be having their Christmas party here.
"We'd love to use Derby as a template and eventually open a nono8 Bar in every city in the country."
For more details on the bar, including how to book a private booth, visit www.nono8bar.com.
6 Comments
by elizabeth, Derby
Thursday, November 27 2008, 12:57PM
“Manners, etiquette & decorum is the motto for this new venue, then why oh why has Jody Marsh been invited, ahem!!???”
by Steve, Derby
Friday, October 10 2008, 11:57AM
“Well, Joanne, that's the Labour legacy. Williams and his friends liked to spend money left, right and centre on daft schemes without making sure that basic services were covered. The fact that Lumbering Dumb-o-crats are in charge of the city only adds to the recipe for disaster! Congratulations voters. And thanks!”
by Joanne, Derbys
Friday, October 10 2008, 11:37AM
“Oh well thanks Steve. Sometimes one could be forgiven for feeling confused,
what with big wads of cash being spent on things like the giant TV screen, bridges, etc, and yet no public loos or bus station.....Ironically though, there will be toilets at Westfields, encouraging "footfall" in that direction.
I'm just struck by the disparity between eg 340 million pounds
spent on Westfields, and yet public services may be at skeleton level...
However, good luck to this restaurant, (and hope you have some good loos too....)”
by rob, derby
Friday, October 10 2008, 11:19AM
“Well having looked at the website and menu offered, it looks no more exclusive than a harvester restaurant, but I suppose footballers will think its classy!!”
by Steve, Derby
Friday, October 10 2008, 11:13AM
“Errrrrm, it's privately funded?”
by Joanne, Derbys
Friday, October 10 2008, 10:55AM
“This is good news, but may I ask where the funding is coming from?
I thought Derby was struggling with its finances, so much so, that we can't even afford public toilets?”