This week we are delighted to be supplying PA for the reopening of La Belle Angèle, one of Edinburgh’s iconic music venues of the 1990’s, who like a phoenix has risen from the ashes a mere 12 years after it burned to the ground in the catastrophic Cowgate fire of 7th December 2002. The club’s official opening on Friday 24^th October starts a Nightvision double weekender featuring Feel My Bicep and Leon Vinehall, Xplicit and Andy C.
The decision early last year by Edinburgh Council’s Licensing Board to grant an alcohol licence for the venue, despite the city’s tough stance on restricting the numbers of pubs and clubs in the city centre, will have gone some way to appeasing music promoters who supported the application and are concerned about the lack of small to mid-size quality music venues in the city.
Before the venue was completely destroyed in the 2002 blaze which ransacked the Cowgate, lasting four days and destroying eleven buildings, La Belle Angèle was one of the city’s most popular venues, hosting top bands of the day including a legendary Oasis gig in 1994 as well as bands such as The Libertines, Shooglenifty, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie and The Silencers. Now more than a decade on the site is finally rebuilt with a hotel and retail units and La Belle back in situ in a courtyard just off Hastie’s Close. The venue is squarer and the layout has been reversed – there is now a raised area with a bar near the entrance which continues down to the dancefloor and the stage, which can be expanded to accommodate up to a 10 piece band, at the opposite end.  The venue has a capacity of 550 and will function as a club venue along with hosting live gigs from promoters such as Regular Music, DF Concerts and Synergy. Original Manager Martin Coull is back on board and said “Our main focus is on quality of sound. A big focus at La Belle Angèle has been production quality so it is really for music lovers and people who love live music”
Long live La Belle Angèle!
Barbara