New bar opening (From Stroud News and Journal)

New bar opening

Stroud's vibrant day-time scene could be just as booming at night, says Mark Winchcombe.

He's opening a new bar-restaurant, which will serve good quality food as well as being a place for a drink.

MARK Winchcombe chose Stroud for his new bar-restaurant because he fell in love with a building.

He was so taken with the dramatic lines and glass ceiling of 9, John Street, he not only decided to open his business there, he's even named it 'Nine' in its honour.

But there's another reason too. When Nine opens at the end of this month, it will be a late-night venue with a touch of sophistication - somewhere you can enjoy a good quality meal as well as a drink; where art from a local gallery hangs on the wall, and the music is quietly entertaining.

"I felt the outlying areas of Stroud were being well-catered for - there's The Fleece at Rooksmoor, and Nailsworth has a good selection of places to go - but in the evenings, the centre of Stroud is very much aimed at young people at the moment," Mark says.

"There didn't seem to be a lot of choice for the older age group, people in their late 20s upwards." And that's a gap Mark hopes to fill.

Nine, which will open from 11am-11pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 11am-2am on Fridays and Saturdays, will have a small dance floor as well as eating and bar areas.

Mark already runs a series of pubs in places such as Bath and Bristol, as well as smaller towns like Frome.

In his experience, one the most important factors for a successful nightlife is good infrastructure - making sure there are adequate bus services, and that taxis are easy to come by.

"An awful lot of people are migrating away from big cities and moving into market towns," Mark says.

"And places like Stroud offer great opportunities for businesses. It's got a Waitrose; it's got a brand new cinema due to open in the summer; and it's working to sort out transport issues.

"In some ways, I'm taking a big risk. But I have to say, I also think I'm very lucky to get into the town at this point.

"I know people worry about late-night venues in town centres, but we are hoping to add to Stroud - to show people there is a different side to the night-time economy."