Ruby Rae's, the hugely popular country music bar that took Newcastle by storm since opening last summer, is expanding. The owners have confirmed they have secured the keys for a second venue in a new, as yet unconfirmed, location.
From The Empress to Nashville in Newcastle
The bar, located on Side, was previously home to party bar The Empress. After The Empress closed, the building underwent a Tennessee-style transformation, bringing Nashville to Newcastle. The announcement of the city's first dedicated country bar generated massive buzz, and excitement was at fever pitch by the time Ruby Rae's opened.
Instant Success and Community
Ruby Rae's quickly became a firm favourite among the North East country music community, with visitors travelling from outside the region and even from the USA. Co-owners Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke revealed on social media: "After an amazing first year in Newcastle, we’re so excited to take the next step and open our second Ruby Rae’s, continuing to grow our team and community who’ve all been nothing short of incredible this past year. It’s going to be a BUSY few weeks and we can’t wait to start showing you all what we’ve been working on over the last 6 months…"
Authentic Nashville Vibe
Earlier this year, ChronicleLive spoke to Dean Saunders, who highlighted the real community that has formed among regulars. "People feel comfortable coming in on their own," he said. "I always say how the hell do you explain that without it sounding a bit strange, but it's such a nice environment that everyone knows everyone."
American acts who have performed at the bar have given it their seal of approval. Dean added: "We get them to do a little clip after their show and they're all saying 'it's the most authentic, it feels like Nashville.'" Dan Cooke commented: "They have a good gig but then they're also complementing us on how much it's like being in Nashville, which is great for us. And we're not telling them to say that, honest!"
Expansion Plans
The new venue will be the second Ruby Rae's, with the location yet to be announced. The owners have been working on the project for the last six months and promise to reveal details soon.
