The Hope And Ruin

Queen’s Road, Brighton, 01273 325793

SALLY Oakenfold has wanted to revamp Brighton’s Queen’s Road venue ever since she first started going there as a punter 20 years ago.

And last night she unveiled the newly renamed Hope And Ruin after an extensive six-week refit, which should see the venue attract more acts to follow in the footsteps of previous big name headliners The Strokes, Adele, Electralane and First Aid Kit.

When The Guide went to see the venue on Tuesday it was still in the last stages of completion – but the major changes to the upstairs performance space were already obvious.

Moving the bar to the back of the room and raising the stage has opened up a black box venue which should lead to an increased capacity of about 150 people.

“We knew it had the potential to be better,” says Oakenfold, who took over The Hope in June, having run sister venue Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, in Middle Street, for the last four years.

As well as opening up the space there is a new green room for acts, and the air conditioning has been revamped. Plus the bar offers a continental-style tank lager and a wider selection of drinks.

If the upstairs is a black box, downstairs is the polar opposite. In redesigning The Hope And Ruin Oakenfold has tried to both look back to the venue’s own past and add a sense of fun with some lovely details – ranging from a new kitchen in the back end of an old caravan to a wall of vintage televisions and tape recorders alongside the old jukebox.

“If the upstairs is like a blank canvas for the acts to make their own, down here is a very different space with a different vibe,” says Oakenfold. “I wanted it all to be reused, no new stuff down here. Over time we hope that the bands will put stickers on the wall as an addition to the atmosphere. We have also uncovered the past of the building.”

On the stairs up to the venue there is a carving on the wall directing people to “The Swiss restaurant” a throwback to when the building was known as The William Tell. In previous lives The Hope And Ruin has also been known as the Polar Bar Central, The Pig And Paradise and The Lift.

The latest extension to The Hope’s name was partly practical – with such a big outside wall on Queen’s Road it made sense to make the name longer – but also to underline the new start.

Aside from an extended drinks list the biggest new addition downstairs is the food menu, which it is hoped will launch this weekend. With so many pubs and bars offering variations on the burger, The Hope And Ruin plans to offer something a bit different.

“We will be doing poutine – a Canadian dish of chips, gravy and curd cheese which is very fashionable in London,” says Oakenfold. “We will also have hot dogs and street food, with lots of interesting vegetarian and vegan options. It will be quick and simple food so you can grab a bite before seeing a band upstairs.”

Fans of The Hope’s regular downstairs nights won’t be disappointed, with acoustic night Hush Hush, weekend DJs and Zine Club still being hosted in the space.

But with city promoters Lout, One Inch Badge, Melting Vinyl and Dictionary Pudding programming upstairs there are potentially many more future stars on the way.