Bristol event space deemed 'unsafe' by new owners before major transformation
The co-founder of the company that has taken over a former arts venue in Bristol said that the building was “not safe” when the firm first took over the space earlier this year. The Prospect building in St Philips, which was formerly known as Propyard, re-launched on Saturday (September 28) after being closed since April.
Prospect, which is owned by A Man About A Dog (AMAAD), was the subject of a £500,000 regeneration by the new owners to create a cultural hub which can be used for music events, markets, comedians and boxing events, amongst other things. Prospect is designed to have a maximum capacity of 4,800 people when both rooms are used together.
Paul Jack, the founder of AMAAD alongside Will Harold, said that when the group took over the building in June, it found that the building was unsafe and the building needed a complete refurbishment from the ground up. Speaking to Bristol Live the day before the re-launch, he said: “The building was not safe when we took over.
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“We had to refit the electronics and had to redo the soundproofing. It may have had an illegal capacity before and we had to create new fire exits to make the building safe again.”
The 25,000 sq ft building features two performance spaces. Room One can host 3,500 people, which makes it Bristol’s biggest single-room capacity in a venue, whilst Room Two can hold 1,300 people. The bars which were originally in Room One has since moved into the smaller room.
Mr Jack said that the project to regenerate the popular arts venue was a “personal” experience for him and the 54 staff at AMAAD. He said: “It is surprising how far we have come in a short space of time [since taking over in June]. This has felt very personal to all of us.
“We have strong links to Bristol having already worked with the likes of Team Love and The Blast. It is our first permanent venue, having previously rented spaces, which we have stayed away from doing in the past as we are promoters, so we now have that creative freedom.”
Prospect has since been refitted with new lights and a unique laser mapping system that created immersive light displays spanning the whole Room One. The venue also utilises platforms on wheels which can be moved for each show, which is designed to make the room feel different each and every time, according to Mr Jack.
Prospect is also unique as it prioritises day-time events, which Mr Jack explained as wanting Prospect to “not be a nightclub”. He said: “We want this to be a multi use space and a cultural hub with a calendar full of variety and not just a nightclub.
“There is nothing like this in Bristol. Not only does this contain the largest open floor space in one room in Bristol, operating most events from 12pm to 10pm, maybe 11pm at the latest, will create a better atmosphere.
“We have a licence to operate until 2am, but the dynamic of people has changed since Covid-19 and the energy levels of people are just better in the day. Also, by opening more for the day, we can help the local economy even better as our audience can move on to other venues or bars following our events.
“We’re thrilled to open The Prospect Building and bring this incredible space to life. Our mission is to create a venue that supports both the local community and international talent, while shaping Bristol’s future cultural landscape."
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