The only element letting the place down was the sound system, as manager Matthieu Destandau explained. "When I first came here three years ago it was more like a casual coffee bar, but slowly we increased the restaurant and bar activity, as well as the outside entertainment."
With the sponsoring of private parties and receptions in the 85 cover restaurant came the requirement for outside production, and Destandau called on Chris Baxter's Events team at The Sound Division Group.
The venue's installed system at the time comprised of a five-CD disk changer and unbranded satellite loudspeakers. "It became a nightmare; when the system broke down we couldn't get spare parts, and as the sophistication of the cocktail bar grew, so our clientele demanded higher-quality background music," Destandau explained. "I knew we needed to spend money in order to attract the kind of party clients we needed."
And so Sound Division were asked to carry out a survey. The north London-based company proposed the installation of discreet white Bose Freespace 3 loudspeaker system, which would both tie in with the general aesthetic and replicate the profile of the speakers that were being removed; they also installed Cloud DJ inputs, so that any DJ's hired could simply connect up their turntables.
In the higher profile dancefloor area Sound Division have specified JBL Control 29AV loudspeakers, positioned up in the exposed ducting and pipework, reinforced with an SB210 sub.
This forms one of five zones, into which this basement labyrinth has been divided; all the volume presets, equalisation and routing pattern for the Sunflower-supplied CD service are stored in a ZonePro 640 loudspeaker management system, with remote panels to allow local volume control and source select. All loudspeakers are powered by Crown XLS series amplification.
Destandau says that the evolved solution ticks all the boxes. "We are delighted with the result; Sound Division have managed to provide us with a fully-equipped venue with a flexible system that is easy to operate."
Sound Division managing director, David Graham, added, "Working in such unusual surroundings tested us to the hilt as we had to remain sensitive to the venue's primary function - as a fireplace showroom. However we have been able to provide a discreet, easy-to-operate and highly flexible package which will equally meet all CVO Firevault's leisure hospitality requirements."
(Chris Henry)
