Shoosh is a stylish independently-owned, new-build bar/restaurant concept, and the finance deal enabled the design, specification and installation of an impressive technical infrastructure at the venue. Cutting a deal became necessary as cash was tight after the funding of interior building works, designed by Steve Howie of Howie Design. New ventures are traditionally the most challenging when it comes to raising additional finance. However, CP Sound’s Colin Pattenden undertook to help Shoosh owner Terry Ramsay raise the necessary, so he didn’t have to compromise on his sound and lighting installation.
Colin approached three different finance companies with the proposal. Via a special deal negotiated between Arbiter and Admiral Leasing, Arbiter came back with the best and most flexible deal. "Arbiter’s offer was the most appropriate by far," confirms Colin. "Apart from that, all the paperwork and administration was quick to organize and easy to put into action." Arbiter is now offering this facility to end users and venues.
For the audio elements of the install itself, Pattenden divided the venue into four main zones, all with varying volume requirements. One side of the venue is dedicated to a restaurant, calling for reasonably restrained sound. The other side is a bar area which is divided into two sections - one for DJs and dancing, which needed to be loud, and the bar itself, which needed to be slightly quieter so conversations were possible. The fourth area, the front entrance, is quieter still. Zone 5 features two sets of toilet speakers, and provision has also been made for the exterior to become Zone 6 - at a later date.
In-room sound control is achieved via four Cloud remote controllers behind the bar, offering volume and selection of each of the four main zones. All the amps and system control equipment is secreted downstairs in a cosy basement room. Shoosh has six potential audio sources - two Rolec computer music systems behind the bar, a VCR, satellite TV, the DJ, plus a CD player in the basement.
Shoosh’s speaker system is also split into four main zones. Colin chose JBL enclosures in line with all CP Sound’s major installations: Zone 1 has four JBL Control 28s and a pair of SB2 subs. Zone 2 has another pair of Control 28s, Zone 3 has two Control 25s and Zone 4 has six Control 25s. CP Sound also supplied and installed a NEC digital video projector in the bar, complete with a 5ft screen, driven by a VCR, and also able to receive satellite TV. For the general background music sources, he chose a dual output Rolec hard drive system.
CP Sound also designed and supplied architectural lighting for the Shoosh interior. Colin chose energy efficient, low maintenance LED fixtures for the main lighting, with 10 colour-changing Pulsar ChromaDomes run off a ChromaZone power pack. A Pulsar Minipiece controller manages lighting across all Shoosh’s different areas. To add a bit of visual pizzazz and some trendy hippy chic, Colin added four Optikinetics Solar 250 projectors with oil wheel effects. In the entrance area - clearly visible through the front door - is a single Solar 250 with a Shoosh gobo, projecting onto the floor in white. This contrasts effectively with the colour changing wall, washed with the ChromaDomes.
The rear of the main bar is fitted with three white neon lite-boxes, constructed to up-light bottles standing on top, which was designed and installed by Phil Kendrick of Simply Neon. Outside, the building frontage is illuminated with four IP68-rated xenon industrial architectural fixtures, complete with dichroic filters giving an eye-catching stepped fade from blue to magenta.
(Ruth Rossington)
