With more than 40 Popworld late-night bar/discos in its portfolio, the Stonegate Group leisure operator recently refreshed Popworld Bournemouth with a ‘next-generation’ interior.
Occupying the site of a former Walkabout Inn, which was equipped with Martin Audio sound system, Martin Audio partner Middlesex Sound & Light (MSL) was able to service, recondition and redeploy some of the pre-existing equipment for use in the new five-zone sound installation. Where auxiliary sound has been required, Martin Audio’s compact, high-output V series have been adds in the shape of A55T surface-mount and ACS-40TS in-ceiling speakers.
‘Martin Audio dominates nearly all of the Popworlds we’ve fitted out,’ confirms MSL Project Manager, Toby Jones. ‘It is our go-to brand because it delivers good quality, with excellent sonic response; it’s also reliable and represents fantastic value for money.’
Stonegate made its heaviest investment yet in audiovisual, flipping the earlier illuminated dancefloor for a fluid overhead pixel-driven lightshow to create a party vibe, while cheesy pop music is played out through a combination of the new and redeployed Martin Audio enclosures.
From an audio perspective, Jones designed the venue as a five-zone interior, plus a separate zone for DJ monitoring, where he has specified a pair of Blackline X10 loudspeakers.
The first zone is the main dancefloor, where four Cuboid 12s, ceiling-mounted loudspeakers from Martin Audio sister brand Optimal Audio, are used in a quad landscape array. Providing LF extension is a pair of existing Martin Audio WS218X subwoofers, which have now been reassigned to the dancefloor.
Off the dancefloor and forming a second zone, are front VIP booth areas, and these are served by four wall-mounted Blackline X8 which fit unobtrusively into the booths. ‘These are all time aligned and delayed to the dancefloor – and can handle increased volume where necessary,’ Jones says.
MSL have designated the third zone to a Selfie area – here, a neat Selfie wall with pixel string lights and two-way mirrors is complemented by a pair of wall-mounted Blackline X8.
Coverage in the main bar area is provided by six original Blackline F12 (reassigned from the previous installation) – again, all in landscape mode and flown from the ceiling. These are matched by a pair of pre-existing X118 subs.
‘Blackline is a tried and trusted product,’ says Jones of the re-use of parts of the earlier installation.. It’s been in the venue and worked extremely well for them over the years, so why dispose of it?’
However, in the ambient areas he has turned his attention elsewhere in the Martin Audio portfolio. Adorn A55Ts line the corridor, while in the basement toilets the music is routed through the newly programmed DSP to four Adorn ACS-40TS ceiling speakers (two in each toilet).
‘Stonegate have established a next generation immersive, both aurally and visually. And Blackline X will be a vital part of the ongoing success story.’
