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PRESS COVERAGE - GENERAL NEWS
HEADING FOR THE HLLS
Washington Star, Thursday 2 October 2008
Leisure group Aquaclear is heading for the hills. The Washington firm is crossing the Pennines to launch its first venture in Cumbria, with the opening of a new bar and restaurant in Carlisle.
Aquaclear, which operates a portfolio of venues across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Sheffield and Nottingham, will create around 20 jobs with the opening of its Antipasto Bar and Café.
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FIRM HAPPY TO BE OVER THE HILLS
Sunderland Echo, 23 September 2008
Leisure group Aquaclear is heading for the hills. The Washington firm is crossing the Pennines to launch its first venture in Cumbria, with the opening of a new bar and restaurant in Carlisle.
Aquaclear, which operates a portfolio of venues across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Sheffield and Nottingham, will create around 20 jobs with the opening of its Social Bar and Café.
Director Stuart Young said: “This is a very exciting time for Aquaclear leisure Ltd and we are proud to say that Carlisle will be an integral part of our expansion plans. The development of the Antipasto Bar and Café has been in the pipeline for quite some time and we are thrilled to see it now come into fruition.”
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INSTANT WEEKEND…NEWCASTLE…BIG NIGHT OUT
The Observer, Sunday 21 September 2008
Popolo up on Pilgrim Street with its New York bar vibe and a top line in mojitos is always packed to the gills.
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BAR PROMISING TO BE LAID BACK AND STYLISH
East Cumbrian Gazette, Thursday 18 September 2008
A NEW bar and restaurant business is to open in Carlisle, despite the credit crunch heaping misery on Cumbria’s entertainment sector.
North east firm Aquaclear Leisure is to transform the old Robertson’s site on Lowther Street into a new “antipasto bar and cafe”. About 20 jobs will be created. The venture should open before the New Year, the company hopes. Work has begun on the premises which Aquaclear says will offer a “laid-back and stylish environment”.
Stuart Young, director of Aquaclear Leisure, said: “This is a very exciting time for Aquaclear Leisure Ltd and we are proud to say that Carlisle will be an integral part of our expansion plans. “The development of the Antipasto Bar and Cafe has been in the pipeline for quite some time and we are thrilled to see it now coming to fruition.”
The firm has chosen a difficult time to venture into Cumbria, with bars and restaurants facing the toughest financial climate for years. In Carlisle a string of venues have closed., including Leonardo’s restaurant and the Babylove and Mood nightclubs. The drinks trade is struggling in the face of the credit crunch, the smoking ban, cheap booze in supermarkets and the fall in consumer spending.
Aquaclear Leisure operates venues across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Sheffield and Nottingham. Its move into Carlisle comes on the back of an extended period of growth and expansion, which saw the firm named the 49th largest restaurant operator in the UK as part of The Restaurant magazine’s inaugural R100 list earlier this year.
In May the firm opened Popolo Bar, Lounge and Kitchen, in Sheffield. Its Saltwater rooftop bar and restaurant in Nottingham was recently named number one in The Observer newspaper’s guide to Europe’s 30 best rooftop drinking spaces.
Robertson’s opened as a cafe bar/nightspot in 2003, on the site of the old Robertson’s bakery. Aquaclear Leisure acquired the lease for the premises after it folded in 2005.
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RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Sunderland Echo, 17 September, 2008
Wearside leisure group Aquaclear has been officially recognised as one of the leading restaurant operators in the region, with an appearance in the Top 100 UK restaurants list.
The company – whose portfolio includes the River Bar and Fiume Italian restaurant, in Washington – was ranked as the 49th best restaurant business in the UK in Restaurant Magazine’s inaugural R100 list.
Aquaclear was rated one of the top two North East firms in the turnover-based list, second only to Premium Bars.
Director Stuart Young said: “Restaurant Magazine is the leading publication for the industry and we are absolutely thrilled to have had our success recognised by them on a national level.”
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AQUACLEAR EXPANDS INTO CUMBRIA
Northern Echo, 16 September 2008
Leisure group Aquaclear Leisure is expanding into Cumbria with the opening of a new bar and restaurant.
The North-East company, which operates ten venues across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Sheffield and Nottingham, plans to open the Antipasto Bar and Café in Carlisle by winter 2008.
Work has started on transforming the former Robertson’s site in the city and is the latest investments and expansions.
Stuart Young, director of Aquaclear Leisure, based in Washington, said: “This is a very exciting time for Aquaclear Leisure and we are proud to say that Carlisle will be an integral part of our expansion plans. The development of the Antipasto Bar and Café has been in the pipeline for some time.”
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PICK OF THE WEEK’S ORIGINAL NIGHT’S OUT
Metro Midlands, Thursday 11 September 2008
Popolo – A unique world class bar in Newcastle; Popolo serves some of the best cocktails in town. It’s luxurious, relaxed lounge vibe and extensive cocktail menu that includes over 69 different variations, make it a drinking destination that must be experience. See www.popolo.co.uk for more information.
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COULD YOU HOLD ALL THE ACES
Sunderland Echo, 2 September 2008
The cards have been put on the table as a weekly poker tournament gets under way.
The free competition at Washington’s Riverbar challenges the bluffing skills of poker novices, enthusiasts and experts alike, giving entrants the chance to win weekly meal vouchers and the opportunity to compete in bigger UK competitions.
The competition is being run in conjunction with the UK Pokerpub League with Riverbar being one of 43 league venues across the country to host their own mini tournaments.
Each week, the winning player will win £30 worth of gift vouchers to spend at Riverbar or any other venues owned by Aquaclear Leisure Ltd, including Popolo in Newcastle and San Lorenzo in Washington.
At the end of the season the top 10 players will also qualify for regional finals, with the chance to win up to £500 cash.
The tournament will take place every Tuesday including tonight.
For more information tel 0191 419 0359.
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A GOOD DEAL
Accent, September 2008
A weekly poker tournament has been launched at Washington’s Riverbar. The free competition, held every Tuesday, is open to everyone and gives entrants the chance to win weekly meal vouchers and the opportunity to compete in larger UK tournaments.
Dan Humphries, group marketing manager for Aquaclear Leisure Ltd which owns Riverbar, said: “Our poker tournament promises a great evening out for players of all ages and abilities and offers an exciting alternative to the weekly quiz night or your average trip down the pub.”
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CLEAR PROFITS
Evening Chronicle, 14 August 2008
A smoking ban has helped boost the profits of a bar. With many venues suffering from the new law which bans people from smoking in public places, the Riverbar in Washington has seen a rise in trade.
Aquaclear Leisure, which owns the bar, invested more than £750,000 in refurbishing the venue, which included the creation of an extensive outdoor terrace.
The large terrace has proven so popular that the owners have now created a separate outdoor bar area which is in use at peak times throughout the year.
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RIVERBAR REAPS BENEFITS OF SMOKING BAN
Northern Echo, 13 August 2008
THE national smoking ban has been credited as helping to boost the profits of a North- East pub company.
Aquaclear Leisure decided to use the introduction of the new legislation last year as a reason to invest more than £750,000 in refurbishing its Riverbar venue in Washington, which included the creation of an outdoor terrace.
Dan Humphries, group marketing manager for Wearside- based Aquaclear Leisure, said: “The outdoor terrace is heated so we can use it all year round, and we’ve seen a notable increase in both its use and sales since the smoking ban came into force.”
Aquaclear Leisure is now hoping to further capitalise on the terrace’s success by hosting weekend events.
The company, which has its head office in Washington, operates a portfolio of nine venues in the North-East, Sheffield and Nottingham.
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NORTH EAST COMPANY IS A CLEAR WINNER
North East Times, August 2008
Ranked 49th best UK restaurant operator in Restaurant Magazine’s inaugural R100 list, Aquaclear Leisure Ltd remains one of the North East’s premier businesses and is now achieving growing national recognition.
Its portfolio of nine award winning venues, spread across the North East, Sheffield and Nottingham, is an eclectic mix of cultures and styles, ensuring there is something different on offer for every taste, age and occasion.
All their restaurants use locally sourced fresh produce and pride themselves on continually providing an excellent and affordable standard of food and drink.
This variety, according to Group Marketing Manager Dan Humphries, is what makes Aquaclear Leisure so successful. “Our range of diverse venues is what makes us different,” he says “we have worked hard not to put all our eggs in one basket, it’s hard work, but we believe the “big chain” mentality waters down a unique experience. People want choice and our portfolio has it in abundance.”
Blue Coyote Bar & Grill, Pilgrim St. Newcastle. www.blue-coyote.co.uk:
The warm and lively atmosphere of Blue Coyote offers a completely unique dining and drinking experience whatever the occasion.
Famed for its wide-ranging menu and mammoth portions it has something to tempt even the most nervous Tex-Mex novice and offers some alluring daytime deals like the £7.50 three-course daily special and the £4.95 Lunchtime Speedy Special for those in a hurry.
If it’s just a drink you’re after then the Bar has a massive drinks selection, especially for cocktail lovers, served until late on weekends. Visitors can relax and make the most of the huge booth seating for a night out in the city without having to order food.
Popolo bar, Lounge and kitchen, Newcastle & Sheffield www.popolo.co.uk:
For something a little more elegant the award winning Popolo offers a laid-back, sophisticated vibe, equally suited to a long lazy afternoon, after work drinks or an unforgettable evening out.
Its unique combination of leather booths, exposed industrial pipe work, cult film projections and moody red lighting creates a distinctive atmosphere akin to a gritty 1950s American Diner and has the type of ambiance normally found in the back streets of Paris or New York. .
Popolo’s major selling point is its extensive and well studied cocktail menu, which earned the venue another place in the Guardian’s Reader’s Guide to the World’s Best Cocktail Bars in 2007. Wednesday’s after 6pm are particularly infamous as the experienced baristas showcase their signature drink the “Mojito” from the menu of 12 varieties for just £3.95 each!
The huge array of cocktails, carefully selected continental beers and wines served from the venue’s stunning crimson, cream and black centrepiece horseshoe bar, is also complemented by a perfectly balanced food menu of modern Italian cuisine.
Earlier this year Aquaclear Leisure expanded the Popolo brand into Leopold Square, Sheffield city centre, making a £750,000 investment that follows the same interior design which earned the Newcastle venue Theme Magazine Bar of The Year in 2002. This time there’s also a separate restaurant offering more adventurous Italian food.
San Lorenzo, Gosforth and Cramlington, www.sanlorenzo-restaurant.co.uk:
San Lorenzo is one of Aquaclear’s most popular brands with a branch in Gosforth, named The Gourmet Society’s Best North East Mediterranean Restaurant in 2007, and the new £350,000 restaurant and bar in Cramlington.
These venues continue to build on their sterling reputation by providing excellent homemade Italian food and relying on word of mouth for an enviable level of repeat business. Experienced general managers were recently appointed at both venues, charged with maintaining the high standards of the San Lorenzo brand and upholding the famous lively and family-friendly atmosphere.
To enhance these changes the menu has been updated to introduce a wider selection of desserts, an ever-changing specials board and some new dishes to give more variety for its mass of regulars or tempt them into something a little different.
Ristorante Fiume and River Bar, Washington. www.fiume.co.uk
Fiume and River Bar are Aquaclear Leisure’s most established venues, having earned a remarkable reputation for mouth-watering Italian food and outstanding customer service over the last 15 years.
The whole site had a £250,000 refurbishment in 2007, providing this rural area with the type of venue normally found in Newcastle or Sunderland city centre.
The family focused Fiume restaurant opens 7 days a week, serving up an array of authentic homemade Italian dishes from pizza and pasta to risotto, meat and fish, all at exceptional value for money.
Nestling underneath is the trendy River Bar; undoubtedly one of Washington’s hidden gems. This venue’s stunning riverside location, which often gets the best of the sunshine, is ideal for lazy afternoons and summer nights spent on the heated terraces while enjoying the daily happy hour prices.
Café Antipasto, Jesmond, Newcastle. www.cafeantipasto.com:
One of Aquaclear Leisure’s newest investments, CafeAntipasto, opened in Jesmond in December 2007.
Already proving to be popular with multinational customers, its distinctive “Piattini” menu is ideal for those who love to share and try a range of different dishes without being restricted to a traditional menu.
Whilst supersize coffees, all day mega-breakfasts and panini’s are served during the day, CafeAntipasto takes on a more sleek mode at night, when the bar and restaurant’s stylish and laid back atmosphere makes every visitor feel right at home.
A recent exciting change to its licence means CafeAntipasto can now serve alcohol from 9am until Midnight, when guests can simply drink without having to dine.
Saltwater Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, Nottingham
www.saltwater-restaurant.com:
Saltwater in Nottingham has already received its fair share of awards, including being named the best location restaurant in the Observer Food Guide 2006, winner of the Metro News Best Lunchtime Venue award 2005/6 and runner-up in Theme magazine’s Most Beautiful Bar awards 2005/6.
It is currently flying the Aquaclear flag in Nottinghamshire and represents the firms continued desire to expand throughout the North East and beyond.
For more info please visit - www.aquaclearleisure.com
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NEWCASTLE IS HOTTING UP
Journal, 11July 2008
Newcastle is hotting up this summer with a three course Tex-Mex menu on offer for under £10. The Blue Coyote Bar and Grill on Pilgrim Street is offering diners the chance to sample its eclectic mix of dishes from the Americas and beyond for just £7.50. The offer will run everyday from 12pm to 5pm. For more information about Blue Coyote visit www.blue-coyote.co.uk
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AQUACLEAR GOES INTO TOP RESTAURANTS LEAGUE
Journal, 8 July 2008
Leisure group Aquaclear Leisure has been recognised as one of the leading restaurant operators in the region, with an appearance in the Top 100 UK restaurants list.
The company, which has a portfolio of bars and restaurants in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, as well venues in Nottingham and Sheffield, was recognised in the Restaurant Magazine’s R100 list.
Stuart Young, director of Aquaclear Leisure Ltd, said: “Restaurant Magazine is the leading publication for the restaurant industry and we are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised by them on a national level.
“To be included in the R100 list alongside high-profile names like Gordon Ramsay is testament to the high quality affordable food we offer, combined with the hard-work and commitment of all our staff and comes as the icing on the cake for what has been a prolonged period of growth for Aquaclear Leisure.”
Aquaclear Leisure, which has its head office in Washington, currently operates a portfolio of nine venues including Blue Coyote Bar and Grill and Popolo, bar, lounge and kitchen both in Newcastle, San Lorenzo Italian restaurant in Gosforth and Cramlington, the River Bar and Fiume Italian restaurant in Washington and the Saltwater bar and restaurant in Nottingham.
In December 2007 Aquaclear Leisure opened CafeAntipasto in Jesmond, followed by its first Popolo lounge, bar and kitchen in Sheffield earlier this year.
The firm has already begun planning further expansion within the very near future.
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RESTAURANT RECOGNITION
Evening Chronicle, 8 July 2008
A North East leisure group has been recognised with an appearance in the Top 100 UK restaurants list.
Aquaclear Leisure Ltd, which operates bars and restaurants across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland as well as venues in Nottingham and Sheffield, was ranked as the 49th best restaurant business in the UK in the Restaurant Magazines inaugural R100 list.
Stuart Young, Director of Aquaclear leisure Ltd, said: “Restaurant Magazine is the leading publication for the industry and we are absolutely thrilled to have had our success recognised by them on a national level.
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POPOLO LEISURE BRAND EXPANDS
Northern Echo, 14 June 2008
Leisure group Aquaclear leisure has taken its Popolo brand outside the region for the first time and is already looking at further expansion.
The company, which operates bars and restaurants across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, has invested £750,000 in establishing a Popolo base in Sheffield.
After two years of planning Popolo Sheffield opened its doors on May 30, brining Aquaclear Leisure’s portfolio of venues to eight.
Stuart Young, director of Aquaclear Leisure Ltd, said “it is hugely fulfilling to see the plans we have been cultivating over the past few years finally come into fruition in Sheffield and we are extremely excited about the company’s future, both in the North East and further afield.
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CLEAR UP AT SAN LORENZO
Accent, July 2008
San Lorenzo in Cramlington is now hosting a Texas No Limit Hold Em poker league every Monday evening.
The league, sponsored by Blue Sq Poker, is free to play and held between 8pm and 11pm. Players are advised to arrive early to secure a place at the table.
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RETRO FEEL AT POPOLO
Sheffield Telegraph, 9 June 2008
Stylish Leopold Square is set for a triple-helping of Italian cuisine following the opening of Popolo bar, lounge and kitchen.
Run by leisure group Aquaclear, which has outlets in Tyneside, Northumberland and Nottingham, the venue is spread over two floors.
It boasts a retro 1950s feel, created with exposed ducting, leather booths, film projections and red mood lighting. Live music and DJs will be a regular feature.
Cocktails are a speciality and a focal point of the ground floor is a horseshoe bar. Upstairs the restaurant offers a monthly-changing menu of modern Italian food.
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