05/07/2026
What a weekend that was, 4 different live music acts over 3 days plus 3 days of celebrations to mark the bars 8th birthday.
I (Colin) would like to thank everyone who came along over the weekend and to all the people who said "think it's safe to say despite me thinking this would never work it did and you made it happen"
From the outset we had a vision which was to create a bar that's different. A space where people can meet new people without the pretentious rubbish of a wine bar, but not just a boozer full of whatever.
We wanted a good atmosphere where everyone is welcome and safe, whatever your situation.
We wanted a decent in house sound system, not just loud bad quality elevator music. We wanted live music that fitted our bar, quality, great sound and most importantly something that you the customers wanted to listen to. It was important to us to support live music from the outset, and we still want to although frankly it is becoming less and less economically visible, but we are hanging in there for now.
This weekend is always our special weekend, it's where I remember the friends who worked with me to build the vision who are no longer with us.
But Chris and Rob also played their part in the building of the Southwick Beer Engine and 8 years on Chris has grown from the shy 18 year old to the reasonable, polite (he has always been polite I blame the parents) genuine nice guy he is now. As one of the two who do the accounts he knows his numbers.
Rob well as everyone says "Robs just Rob all round good egg and often mistaken as "The Boss" for the record lovely as he is there's only one boss in the Beer Engine's world and he goes by the name of Bruce Springsteen.
Josh step son and son of my dear wife (yes she does have my arm bent behind my back as I type this) as with Rob Josh is just Josh. Like Chris he's grown up in the full glare of our customers some of you will remember his first few weeks when he looked like a rabbit in headlights. Now jointly with Chris they run the cellar and keep everything up to our exceptional standards, we don't just sell beer we love beer. Josh is also the go to cocktails guy, he sorts menus, does the what's on posters and sorts the quiz every week.
Jules or affectionately known as "Me Julie" sorts weekly accounts, does all manner of stuff generally in a huge rush, but she good at her shi- ops stuff.
Anyone noticed the next generation getting involved? Yes Nicole or as she likes to be called Pepsi is now helping out collecting glasses and glass washing. Like both the boys she's shy so be gentle with her, sure it won't be long before the same Pepsi at home gets to the bar.
So myself Mr Beer Engine or whatever name as they vary!
I do the fixing, building, upgrades orders negotiations with breweries across Europe and UK to try and make sure we are not just ahead of the curve but set the trend. Probably the two most asked questions I get is.
1) Would you do it all again now? Nope I am 65 with a dodgy heart, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
2) don't you get annoyed when other venues locally nick your bands/acts. Honestly no I see it differently. On one hand it's sad they don't have the ability or imagination we do to go out and find the acts in the first place, call it, copy cat whatever not really just sad they have nobody creative. But they are a hospitality venue and all hospitality is on it's knees currently so you do what you can and if copying is your best hum.
Way I see it if we get it right and others don't and they copy it's a sad way of flattery.
So first weekend in July 2027 we do it all again so get it in your diary now, it could be the last one as our lease runs out April 28!
And to everyone of you who have visited us this weekend thank you for your support and kind words to all of us. We all love you and genuinely enjoy your company. We listen, we adapt, we evolve. Evolution is everything. We as a truly independent fully free of any tie sell what you the customers want.
Much love and thank you from Team Beer Engine, and to Team Beer Engine I am proud of everyone of you without you we would just be another bar and that's not the mission.
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