Stage & Stem, a new independent venue, is set to open on Friday, September 4, in the former Sticky Fingers street food unit on Richmond Road in Cardiff. The venue will operate as a café and bistro during the day and transform into a live performance space in the evenings.
Created by hospitality and performing arts duo
The venue has been created by dance lecturer Justin Sparkes, 48, and hospitality manager Ben Macnamara, 31. Macnamara previously managed the Sticky Fingers venue, which closed in December citing "pressure" within the hospitality industry, while Sparkes ran a dance studio in the unit above.
When the building became available, Sparkes was offered the lease and initially considered creating a dance venue before realising the opportunity could become much bigger. After approaching Macnamara, the pair combined their experience in hospitality and the performing arts to develop a new concept designed around changing customer habits.
A destination for food, drink and live entertainment
Macnamara said: "People aren’t just looking for somewhere to have a drink anymore - they want an experience. We wanted to create a destination - somewhere people could come for food, stay for a show and enjoy an evening that feels like a real occasion."
Sparkes added: "Cardiff has fantastic performers, but there aren't many independent spaces designed specifically for smaller productions. We want Stage & Stem to become a place where local artists, musicians and performers can showcase their work while giving audiences something different."
Plans and funding
The venue will serve bistro-style food, light bites and cocktails, while also operating as a flexible event space. Plans include cabaret nights, musical theatre performances, salsa evenings, country music events, comedy, live bands and collaborations with students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. During quieter daytime hours, the multifunctional venue will also be used for rehearsals, workshops and dance classes.
Over the past six months, Sparkes and Macnamara have spent much of their time transforming the former restaurant themselves, repurposing much of the existing bar, furniture and materials to keep costs down. The new business has been set up after the pair secured a combined £50,000 of start-up loans from the British Business Bank after being introduced to the programme through Business Wales. The funding has enabled them to completely redevelop the former restaurant, relocating the bar, constructing a purpose-built stage, reconfiguring internal layouts and purchasing stock ahead of opening.
