UK - The latest creation from the team behind MEATliquor, BLOODsports combines the most enjoyable elements of sports bar and ‘dive’ bar into a nightlife spot in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. With a menu featuring classic MEATliquor dishes, the bar broadcasts live sports all day and night, followed by late-night horror movies, with elements of classic horror films woven into the bar décor.
Having worked with founder Scott Collins on AV system design, implementation and maintenance for the MEATliquor chain, London-based systems integration specialist, Tateside, was on board with the project from the outset.
“We’ve worked with MEATliquor for around five years, so we were enthusiastic to be a part of this new concept,” says Jack Cornish, technical director at Tateside. “You don’t find many sports bars around these days, and with its prime location in Covent Garden, it was an exciting project to be involved in.”
With BLOODsports wanting to live stream every kind of live sport in the bar, the video requirements were a major focus. A total of 28 screens to cover every possible viewing angle in the venue were built into the system design. The spaces covered include the main bar area, alongside a games room and snug area, and a private room for events or larger parties – all without any walled separation. Tateside worked closely with the client and Hisense’s UK distributor to secure the best possible deal on a variety of screens ranging from 32” up to 75”.
For the backend video system, Tateside implemented a video-over-IP solution using a Blustream IP300 series transmitter and receiver, supporting 4K video at 60Hz, essential for live sports. The system integrates eight different video sources, including Sky boxes, streaming services, a DVD player for vintage horror films, and a signage player, used for displaying drinks promotions.
“One of the most interesting and on-brand features of BLOODsports was an LED ticker tape, which we installed above the bar,” recalls Cornish. “We commissioned a custom 9m by 250mm ticker-style LED, which is used for displaying slogans, drinks promos and sports stats.”
The scope for audio was to implement a distributed system where different areas of the venue could listen to different audio feeds. The system is built with a mix of professional-grade audio brands, including Martin Audio CDD loudspeakers and XE212 subs in the main bar, Audac ceiling speakers throughout, and Void Acoustics in the private VIP area.
Dante-enabled Powersoft amplifiers were chosen for audio distribution, whilst Netgear POE+ switches handle networked AV traffic. The overall system is controlled through Q-SYS, with a touch panel and iPad providing intuitive user control over audio sources, screen content and even karaoke playback from a karaoke system sourced by the Tateside team.
Given the flexibility of the system and the ease of source selection, the karaoke system’s audio and video output can be distributed across multiple screens and loudspeakers, depending on how busy the bar is or what other fixtures are taking place at the time. Beyond sing-a-longs and sports, other entertainment options include a DJ booth with Pioneer CDJ and mixer.
“The AV setup at BLOODsports is next level; every screen, every speaker, everything just works seamlessly,” says Scott Collins, co-founder and CEO at MEATliquour and BLOODsports. “Whether it’s game day or a late-night horror screening, the atmosphere is always spot on. Tateside absolutely nailed it.”
