Hi there,
I'm the new manager at SOLA bar, was wondering if I could get a few honest opinions on the place from you guys. I know what a let down the place has been in the past, I plan to change all of these negatives and turn the place into a bar where everyone can have a good time!
I have recently finished my degree at Sheff Hallam studying Product Design and hope my teachings will flow through to the bar itself. I am passionate about the bar and am willing to do anything humanly possible to ensure the success of the place. You should know that I am completley open to any suggestions, It is you that makes a bar what it is! Feel free to pop down at any time and discuss anything related to the bar that's on your mind, be it the colour of the walls, or the music we have playing!

Daytimes @ SOLA
The Menu - When I Joined SOLA we had a 60 year old chef who couldn's speak a word of english and worked in a kebeb house in the evenings. Begining last week we took on a new head chef who is young and enthusiastic. Our new menu is bought in fresh every morning offering a simple, but diverse menu at not too stupid prices!
Food served between 12-2pm Weekdays

Evenings @ SOLA
I have decided not to open on weekday evenings at presant, as the students are away, I just thought to myself 'who's going to come out of their way to a bar which isn't highly regarded (as of yet) for a couple of drinks midweek with work the next day?'

As for the weekend - if only people knew they could come along to what I would regard as one of sheffields most unique bars, and be able to sit, relax and socialise either at the bar, or in a candle lit boothe, with some not too loud in your face music in the background. Quite the opposite of loud, cheek to cheek West Street where it'll take you 20 mins to get served and probably spill your drink on the way back to finding your friends, wherever they may be!
Remember SOLA also has a late liscence, which is a rare thing for Sheffield! so after 11 on a fri-sat you don't actually have to put up with standing around in forum getting your feet trodden on by trendies!

I usually put a movie on the plasma during the night, I am totally open to suggestions, If you bring your own movie I would be willing to play it, obviously no sound, and first movie braught will get played!

Music @ SOLA

I am currently trying to set up an acoustic evening, possibly for Friday nights, maybe as a kind of open mic night? If you know anone who would be interested don't be affraid to let me know, either on here or pop down to the bar!

Art @ SOLA

I have recently employed the bars very own Art Curator, Jim Martin, he is a graduate from Sheff Hallam Fine Art, with fellow artists he plans on using SOLA as an exhibition space, changing every few months with opening nights at the beginning of each.
With this I hope to try something new, as the work will not only be art on canvass, but involve live performances, interactive elements and pieces involving visual media displaying on the plasma screen in the bar.

Ashes @ SOLA

SOLA will be showing full coverage of England V's Australia cricket tournament during the daytime starting next thursday 21st July the bar is open 11:30 - 19:00 weekdays

Thankyou for taking the time to read though this
I look forward to hearing from you whatever your views are!
(Vincent Thompson - Bar Manager)

Vincent,

Firstly, may I congratulate you on what is an innovative way to infuse fresh idea and direction to your venture. Customer-centric businesses have a long-standing history of succeeding. I am a Business Consultant by profession and should like to offer some advice or help (on a pro bono basis) to you. What's your email address?

thankyou very much for your imput my e-mail is vinny8989@hotmail.com
look forward to hearing from you soon!

It's a shame your not opening because the students are away, I go out most when they are away.

Make sure you post up your new menu. Also, on the subject of food, please try to keep the prices realistic, I love simple food but £8 for bangers and mash or £10 for a burger is a bit of a joke.

Good luck, Sola is a nice bar.

heres a look at the new menu guys, not trying to be too advantagouse as I'm trying to start the whole bar from scratch!

You need to try the chunky chips, cut from king edward potatoes, then fried like your mum used to, but three times!! TASTEY!!!

Snacks / Appetizers
Bruchetta (v) £2.95
(garlic onions, fresn tomatoes, flavoured oils)
Home made soup of the day

Sandwiches
Bread - white,granary or tortilla wrap
Club £4.95
(chicken, bacon, egg, tomato, lettuce)
Cherry tomatoes, onion and mozzarella (v)
Bacon and brie
Steak with caramelised onions

Salads
Couscous and vegetable (v) £5.95
Caesar (v)
Tuna
Chicken and bacon

Hot Plates £6.95
Wild mushroom and parmesan creamy risotto (v)
Home made beef burger
(tomato and herb)

Side Orders
Chunky chips £2.50
Garlic bread
Nachos and dip
Olives



What do you think???

just thought I should add that we're not open this weekend!
I become the liscencee on monday, until then we are unable to sell alcohol, sorry for any inconveniance!

Where is the SOLA bar, Vincent?

And not all the students are away - Some of us like to stay here to enjoy sheffield, erm.. when the students are away!

Your menu looks lovely, and I like the sound of candle lit booths.

Perhaps you could offer a free soft drink to forum members? (Cheeky, I know, but its worth a try :D )

def a free drink to you, maybe not all the forum members!
SOLA is located behind the Cathedral, on a steep one way road in parallel to the cathedrals spire, off Campo lane.
SOLA 21-23 North Church Street, you can see a vertical SOLA sign.

I used to go to Sola whenever I was back in Sheffield (currently residing in London) and enjoyed the fact you could have relaxing drink in a comfortable environment. That all changed when the place became something of a 'restaurant'/bar as it seemed to only cater for people who were going there for the food. Major let down...especially on a Saturday night

it's looking great. def worth a visit!!
love the cocktails by the way!

Good luck with it. I like the building and its general design and it should be a place that people take the trouble to seek out. But because it's slightly off the beaten track, you need word of mouth recommendations or you're sunk. It sounded great in the press when it opened, but I only went in once or twice and it was a disappointment. It was lifeless and virtually empty.

Sounds like you're on the right track by actually bothering to ask the customers, but here's a few ideas:

-Turn the lights down (if we want brightness we'll go somewhere with windows), candles are good too.
-A quality jukebox for the daytimes and early evenings might be worth a try (all the new local bands that have records out should be on it for example)
-Simple food that people will come back for repeatedly (eg nice bread, nice cheeses - like stuff you get on the Fargate continental market)
-The draft beers shouldn't be too expensive.
-One well-kept quality local cask ale and fancy Euro bottled stuff would appeal to many people (not just beardy-types)
-Affordable, gluggable wines
-local art exhibitions
-more and better planned seating

What did it used to be, was it formerly the Golden Ball? I have never heard of the place, how long has it been called Sola?

Originally posted by muddycoffee
What did it used to be, was it formerly the Golden Ball?

No, it's on a steep road, behind the catherdral, heading down towards the court house, it's realy easy to miss, just a little sign and a door on the left.

SOLA is lovely.. its a fantastic space.. really light and airy.. I think the resteraunt seemed to take over tho and the last few times I went it was deadly quiet which is always a bit weird.

Do a cheap cocktail offer part of the night or on certain nights.. thats one of my main criteria when choosing a bar.. but don't be stingey with the cocktails just cos they're on offer (one of the reasons I was put of going to SOLA before!)

Sophisticated low lighting is a must.. live music is always good, reasonable food menu with tapas or nibbles... smiley staff... no dress code..

I'll definitely pop down when you reopen.. and drag some friends along.. its not that far out of the way really when you consider that its near to the Wig and Pen which I love and its always a joy to be able to stay away from West Street which I hate on a fri/sat and tend to avoid like the plague..

Best of luck!

I used to love Sola for the following reasons:
1, The Asian guy chef who made the best creme brulee I've ever tasted. (Where the hell does he work now?) And travelling in my job, I've eaten in a lot of different restaurants.
2. The fact that it served quality food that was a bit different - don't want standard fare. It used to be THE place to eat when the bloke from Lion's lair had it. Defo wig and pen has now taken over and 543 in my book and lion's lair still good. Although your menu looks fine , it would not entice me to eat there. Want something a bit eclectic and am willing to pay for it.
3. Fantastic how it was a restaurant bar then about 10 the bar took over. Yes the beautiful crowd do move on to other places but structually it is a fantastic bar for all. Don't rely on the student crowd - they have plenty of places to go.
4. Comedy nights used to be great and i made an effort to go out midweek for them.
5. They served the best caprinihas in town with brown sugar.
Hope you get it going again. Good luck!!

*tightwad Scot alert* !!

£2.50 for chips ??? It's prices like that that put me off eating out :(

Good luck with the new venture though :) Wish I could do summat along those lines.

Originally posted by EdnaKrabappe
Although your menu looks fine , it would not entice me to eat there. Want something a bit eclectic and am willing to pay for it.


I agree with that. Although the menu looks fine, it seems a bit standard for a restaurant/bar of Sola's (potential) calibre.

.........................

tbh that menu isn't really impressive. Not different enough to anything you'd get in a comprable place and probably more expencive.

How much is say a pint of lager in there now anyway. (I always avoided Sola as it used to be full of wanabees and then it was food centric 9and I could never find it:D )

Although listening to ideas for a new venture is great, and customer-friendly. Make sure you have your own clear vision for the place.... and I'm talking from experience here...

(And learn to spell License/Licensee!)

hi, i would agree with anna here, and this is based on experience of managing everything from successful cheap bulk-sale cocktail joints to ultra-selective 50 seaters designed to illicit maximum spend per seat.

basically, you need to decide what market you are going for and design everything about Sola to attract that market. similarly, you need to decide who you don't want in and ensure your design selects out those people.

for example, in a tacky sports bar (let's take champs as an example) you will find a loads of sports TVs (volume only during major events), cheap cocktails and bottles early evening, simple but pricey no-nonsense food, and a sprinkling of footballing celebs. This effectively selects students in the early evening, wealthy-ish families in the restaurant all weekend, wannabees every night, and lots of young men and ladies (that quickly becomes self-sustaining). the same recipe selects out "weirdos", real-ale fanatics, people wanting top quality gastro, etc.

now take a more selective cocktails and modern-gastro joint (say arts cafe in leeds). here you will probably only find one beer on tap and it will be european and dear, you won't be able to buy a pint (halves or a pitcher to share), the food and wine will be great but expensive, but a quality cheaper lunch menu will keep the place ticking over. the coffee will be first class, the music easy on the ear but very well selected, and the staff happy (well paid and fed). this mix will attract wealthy upper-middle class trendies, lots of pink pound wielding gay couples (men and women), and professionals from 20 to 80. the same mix will de-select normal students (ie ones without trust funds), groups of lads, and families out with their kids.

now before you decide on your market and your business design, you need to look at what factors you can't change, eg sola is down a little backstreet, it is hard to find, it is a pleasant design (light and airy), it can hold about 70(?) seated, it is in sheffield's premier working lunch area, but is not too far off the beaten track to carve a niche in the nighttime market. my advice would be to market to quality working lunches in the day, and quality drinkers (wine, a few cocktails, good beers, no groups of lads on the hunt, gay crowd) in the evening. i could go on but this is turning into a rant. i would be happy to discuss more (cost you a meal for two though!)

joe