Trowbridge's rock night spot is sold (From Wiltshire Times)

Trowbridge's rock night spot is sold

8:32am Friday 19th June 2009

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The largest nightclub in Trowbridge is to close for six weeks after being taken over by a national pub chain.

Chicago Rock Cafe, in Park Road, off Silver Street, will close this weekend to be refurbished and will then reopen in August as a Lloyds No.1 Bar, owned by JD Wetherspoon.

The Wiltshire Times understands the sale is set to go through on Monday and will have no bearing on the existing Wetherspoon pub, the Sir Isaac Pitman in Market Street.

Despite opening to great fanfare in 2002 with stilt walkers and a cake at the launch party, there is to be no big closing party tomorrow night, but entertainment from the Coyote Ugly girls will still go ahead as planned.

Staff were informed at a meeting in the bar last Wednesday and were reassured that none of them would lose their jobs.

Assistant manager of Chicago Rock Cafe, Mathew Thorne, 23, said: “It is the end of an era really, but generally everyone is quite excited about it becoming a Lloyds bar.

“We’ve been told it will be the same as it is now in that there will be food during the day and music at night.

“But there will be no music policy as there is now. Our DJ currently has to play a certain percentage of music from the 80s, 90s and present day, which some people don’t like.

“We’ve been told there will be a big recruitment drive in July for kitchen and bar staff.”

He said there were currently between 10 and 15 staff who work at the bar and a couple had resigned after hearing the news on Wednesday, as they had recently been offered full- time jobs elsewhere.

A spokesman for 3D entertainment, which owns Chicago Rock Cafe, said: “We are in talks with an unnamed potential buyer and there is a possibility that we will be selling the Chicago Rock Cafe Trowbridge between now and the end of June. The talks are at an advanced stage.

“We are in the process of consulting with whole team and TUPE regulations will apply with regards to the sale and therefore there are no risks (to staff).”

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoons would not comment on the sale, but confirmed the company was looking at a number of Chicago Rock sites in the UK.

During its reign in Trowbridge, Chicago Rock has attracted a host of celebrity and reality show singers, including Jason Donovan, Chico, X Factor finalists and East 17.

What the punters think

“I quite like Chicago Rock, it’s one of the better bars in the town but I don’t like old music so personally it’s not a bad thing it’s changing. Plus I expect it will be a bit cheaper being a Wetherspoons, which will help during these economic times.”

Gary Boyd, 22, Daisy Close, Melksham.

“Chicago Rock is for older people. It’s like a graveyard when you walk in there. The music is a bit dated. The only thing is, you don’t want this new bar to be dreary.”

Faye Williams, 19, Wiltshire Drive, Trowbridge.

“I like Chicago Rock, it’s one of the places I go in Trowbridge but Wetherspoons prices are low and I like their beer so that’s good news.”

Kane Smith, 21, Oldfield Park Estate, Westbury.

“It always takes ages to get a drink in Chicago Rock. They have these special £1 a drink nights but they aren’t for all drinks and they charge 47p for a coke if you want it as a mixer. The dance floor is too small as well.”

Kayleigh Williams, 18, Charlotte Square, Trowbridge.

“I think Chicago Rock is a really nice venue. They play a variety of music from different eras which is good. I’m not a big fan of Wetherspoons but I’ll give it a go but if I don’t like it, I probably won’t go back.”

Jamie Davies, 19, Oldfield Park, Westbury.

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