31/05/2010

The Pavilion Plans Part 2 – The Refectory

This is the second in a series of articles about the plans for the Pavilion, which I will write over a number of days. It must be remembered that these plans are just draft plans and will change as further considerations are taken into account. The design of a bar / catering outlet in the Pavilion is important and will be one of the keys to its success. The profile we were looking for is as follows: • Primarily to cater for visitors to the Pavilion. • Not to compete directly with other CafĂ© / Food outlets in Matlock Bath. • Not to offer too complex a range of food; which would have required a large kitchen. • Be part of the pedestrianised area at the front of the Pavilion, to draw people in. • But also offer food to people on the 1st floor. • Only to sell alcohol to those inside the building for an event. The formulation we have come up with is to have a “Refectory” on the ground floor, which would offer things, not currently available elsewhere in Matlock Bath. For instance we could offer “Fair Trade” products in the Refectory. There could also be long benches rather than simple tables and chairs. The Refectory would be in the old Tourist Information Centre. On the ground floor will be the kitchen, with a “Dumb Waiter” to the floor above. This will be big enough to lift crates of drinks to the floor above. There would be a self service servery again adding to the distinction between it and other facilities in the village. The new back door will lead to a small bins area and a reasonably sized beer store. These would take up three public parking spaces, but by re-organising the parking, these can be replaced. This is an important point, as the Council values these spaces! On the first floor will be the bar. It is in the room above the old Tourist Information Centre, as this will allow space for queuing; without having people trying to get past. The bar will need to be supplied from the beer store nearby below. Currently the window with the best view in that room, over Matlock Bath, is taken up by the Kitchen. We will have the bar backing onto the view of the car park, so when this room is let or used during the day, the view will be visable. The right of the bar will have the food preparation room and the whole of the rest will be available for serving food during the day and bar use during the evening. On Theatre nights, a ledge round the room will be used for pre-ordered drinks. In this way we hope to offer something is different and attractive to visitors to the Pavilion and encourage them to come back. Gregor

30/05/2010

The Pavilion Plans Part 1 – The Entrance

This is the first in a series of articles about the plans for the Pavilion, which I will write over a number of days. It must be remembered that these plans are just draft plans and will change as further considerations are taken into account. There were a number of considerations that we have already had to take into account for the New Front Entrance, we wanted: • Something bold; that made a statement about the changes to the building. • A pedestrianised area at the front; to give the entrance a welcoming feel. • To make the inside of the foyer warm in winter! • More natural light in the foyer. • To share the foyer with the Mining Museum to attract visitors to both. • To give disabled access to the whole building. • To have this disabled access the best possible position.The plan shows an entrance with a large pedestrianised area, a canopy and a glass covered entrance foyer. This allows the whole front area to be used as an advert for what is happening inside. The canopy will be high enough to be clearly visible from the road and for emergency vehicles to get underneath if needed. On the canopy we can hang adverts for what is happening inside. The sliding doors and the glass front enables the foyer to be larger and, with two sets of doors, stops the cold breezes that currently fill the Mining Museum on cold winter days! Inside the first set of doors is the disabled lift entrance; this leads to all floors. As you arrive in the foyer you are greeted with the ticket office for the Pavilion on the left and the entrance to the Mining Museum on the right. We hope that visitors, attracted by one venue, will pay a visit to both. The wall on the right of the foyer may be taken by the Tourist Information Point, which gives visitors about Matlock Bath attractions and allows them to make bookings. This is very accessible and again will attract visitors to also go into either of the Mining Museum or the Pavilion. Overall the entrance experience will be for more appealing than what was on offer by the nightclub. After buying their tickets, visitors would turn left to enter the Pavilion. What they will see next will be in the next instalment….. Gregor

28/05/2010

What do you know about the History of the Pavilion?

Along side the unveiling of the Draft Plans for the Pavilion the Matlock Bath Pavilion Group is looking at the History of the Pavilion. Over the months that the Group has been in existence Group Historian, Charles Beresford, has been busy building up a history of the building. Many people have shared their experiences and stories about their stories of the Pavilion. This will be shared as part of the Open Days, which will be held in the Pump Room of the Pavilion on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of June between 10am and 4pm; Saturday will be open until 6pm.The Group is attempting to build a repository of photographs, drawings, painting and peoples own personal accounts of how the Grand Pavilion may have played a part in their lives. Did you meet your partner at the Pav? Did you see live music? Have your first kiss?They will then look to use this ‘Memory Bank’ to tell the story of the Grand Pavilion through the years using a variety of methods, such as through their website or even in a book. Can you help us build a ‘Grand Pavilion Memory Bank’? Charles can be contacted at Lyndhurst, Brunswood Road, Matlock Bath. Tel.: 01629 56785. Gregor

27/05/2010

Pavilion "Open Days" Announced

We will be organising open days in the Pump Room of the Pavilion on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of June between 10am and 4pm; Saturday will be open until 6pm. After three months of furious work, we are ready to unveil our Draft Plans showing what the Pavilion may look like in future. Our plans include a 400 seat theatre, which can be changed into an open space within a few minutes. It will preserve the original stage and will use the side rooms as meeting rooms and a “Refectory” serving visitors to the building with food and drinks. The Pavilion will boast a grand front entrance with a canopy to the road and a foyer shared with the Peak Mining Museum. There will be full disabled access. We have built up a good relationship with the Peak Mining Museum and the Parish Council. We have included all their requirements into our plan, with the minimum of disruption to their space in the building. At the gardens side of the Pavilion the Group are proposing to move the Public Toilets to the side of the building and significantly upgrade the quality. Gregor

26/05/2010

A Company Limited by Guarantee!

After some time working on our ideas for The Pavilion, we are really beginning to show some results! First is setting up the company that will be the vehicle for the Charity; that will run the Pavilion. This is a “Company Limited by Guarantee”. It will be called The Grand Pavilion Ltd. The subscribers will come from the Matlock Bath Pavilion Group as well as a representative of both the Peaks Mining Museum and the Parish Council. You can find the constitution at the attached website: http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/guidance/gd1text.pdf This wording helps to Fast-Track Charitable Status. We will need to add £4,000 to the £1,000 that we have already raised in order to apply. We have got lots of activities planned to raise this money and if you can help, please contact me by responding to this blog link or phone me on 0777 1717 086 or visit the website www.savethepavilion.com. Gregor

15/05/2010

Visit to the Buxton Pavilion

Yesterday I visited Buxton and spoke to Terry Crawford of the Buxton Pavilion. The place seems to be buzzing with activity. The Gardens were full of visitors and the Cafe was busy. The shop appeared to be doing a roaring trade and the Concert Hall was hosting an Antiques Fair. Terry spoke about how success was based on keeping busy and what I saw seemed to prove that. Having looked at our plans for the Pavilion, he suggested that when the stage was not being used, it could become a small cinema by facing the chairs sideways. What would be required would be sound insulation between the stage and the rest of the hall. We also spoke about the banqueting capability of the ballroom and talked around the difficulties of organising hot food without having a substantial kitchen facility. Corporate use during the week is certainly a possibility and the lecture theatre combines with the array of rooms for break-out meetings would work out well. Gregor

14/05/2010

Latest Partnership and Regeneration Committee


Last night the Partnership and Regeneration Committee unanimously noted our April report.

As they did this there were a number of comments about how much work we had done in getting to the stage that we are at. Well done everyone!

A comment made, that we must pay attention to, is that we should have a clear idea of where the funding comes from. We need this funding to do the necessary changes to the building, before we can open. We are working on this currently; but must end up with a clear idea, if we are to persuade the Council to allow us to go ahead.

Gregor