ESL add a touch of Martin magic at Wickford’s Bar Plazma

When the plush new Bar Plazma in Wickford burnt down in October 2005 shortly after opening, it was hard to believe that it would re-emerge a little over a year later with an uprated specification.

But the town centre venue, owned by experienced nightclub operator Douglas Quirk and managed by Alistair Burrell (who had safely evacuated all the staff and customers on that fateful October evening), has done precisely that.

Quirk, who made his name running the epochal Hollywood Romford in the 1980’s, turned to fellow Essex contractors, Southend-based Essex Sound & Light and interior designer Colin Stone of Stone Me Design, to deliver a superior interior package. What they have produced is an upscale, all-day chameleon venue which trades from 11am until 11pm (midweek), 1am Thursday and 2am at weekends.

ESL were asked to carry out the technological integration following their success in converting Quilter’s into the Ivory Rooms in Billericay. “They were the ideal company for the job,” credits Burrell.

Asked to produce a continuous but constantly changing atmosphere - ranging between subtle mood lighting and a full-on club environment - ESL’s Mike Glover specified his products carefully.

On the busy dancefloor are four each of Martin Professional Wizards and SCX-500 Mania scans, complemented by two CX4 colour-changers.

Wickford is scheduled for systematic redevelopment over the next 15 years - and Bar Plazma is well-positioned to take advantage, believes Alistair. “The Plazma experience is second to none,” he says, adding that if the formula proves successful the operators will look to roll out further Bar Plazma’s in the future.