Leicestershire independent pub company The Orange Tree to open its first club

East Midlands independent pub group The Orange Tree is to bring something new to Leicester’s nightlife with the opening of its first club.

The group has taken over the site formerly occupied by The Basement in Wellington Street, Leicester, and plans to transform the premises into a flexible venue with an alternative feel and offer.

The club, which will retain the name The Basement, will be true to the style of the group’s other outlets – The Orange Tree in High Street, the O Bar in Braunstone Gate, The Lansdowne in London Road, which are all in Leicester, and The Orange Tree, Loughborough, and The Orange Tree, Nottingham.

It will be a live music venue some nights, a late night bar on others and at weekends The Basement will have a more traditional night club feel but in intimate and personalised surroundings.

Ben Hings, managing director of The Orange Tree Group, said: “The Basement will be an eclectic mix of all the elements of our other establishments. Our aim is to create a venue that’s flexible in what it offers, and that is centred on the same principles, ethos and standards that have made the O Bar, The Orange Tree and The Lansdowne successful and popular with customers.

“The fact that we are expanding is good news for the company and good news for the nightlife in Leicester, which will be gaining the type and style of venue that we felt was missing in the city.”

Work is now underway to transform the 170-capacity club, with an expected opening date due in late spring or early summer.

The Basement has a licence to open until 6am, which the Orange Tree Group plans to operate at key times of the week.

The independent pub group was founded by Ben Hings and Gareth Smith in October 1997 when they opened The Orange Tree in Leicester. This was followed by The Orange Tree, Loughborough, a year later and then the O Bar in Leicester in 2001. The group’s Orange Tree in Nottingham opened in October 2003, followed by The Lansdowne in December 2004.

www.orangetree.co.uk

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk