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#A BRIEF HISTORY
Chicago Rock Café came to Swansea just at the end of the year 2000. It is a venue that opens early during the day time and serves food while a jukebox plays quietly or a film is shown on the screen. Not only is it a good quality themed restaurant, but you can continue ... Read review
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Advantages: its a colourful restaurant by day, funky club by night! Disadvantages: you can't guarantee the drinks offers are on!
CHICAGO ROCK CAFÉ - SWANSEA
There's a little club in the town near me and I won't go anywhere else! A lot of people will disagree with my opinion, but to me this venue offers so much.
I have been going to this club regularly since it first opened 5 years ago. I have eaten food there, seen many great tribute bands on stage, watched live sporting events, sat quietly with a group of friends and watched soaps on the big ... ...BRIEF HISTORY
Chicago Rock Café came to Swansea just at the end of the year 2000. It is a venue that opens early during the day time and serves food while a jukebox plays quietly or a film is shown on the screen. Not only is it a good quality themed restaurant, but you can continue your day out into the night with a live band or disco DJ.
When I say "Themed" I mean the general feel to the venue is a musical ... more
CHICAGO ROCK CAFÉ - SWANSEA
There's a little club in the town near me and I won't go anywhere else! A lot of people will disagree with my opinion, but to me this venue offers so much. I have been going to this club regularly since it first opened 5 years ago. I have eaten food there, seen many great tribute bands on stage, watched live sporting events, sat quietly with a group of friends and watched soaps on the big screen, and most importantly, I've danced the night away many times.
#A BRIEF HISTORY
Chicago Rock Café came to Swansea just at the end of the year 2000. It is a venue that opens early during the day time and serves food while a jukebox plays quietly or a film is shown on the screen. Not only is it a good quality themed restaurant, but you can continue your day out into the night with a live band or disco DJ.
When I say "Themed" I mean the general feel to the venue is a musical tribute to great artists past and present. *If anyone has ever been to a "Hard Rock" café, Chicago Rock is a similar base line.
Chicago Rock Café is owned by the nightclub group Luminar Leisure (look at www.luminar.co.uk ) who are also responsible for "Jumping Jak's" and "Oceana". Luminar are pioneers in themed restaurants and nightspots.
Contact:
Steve Williams 2-3 St. Mary's Street, Off Wind Street, Swansea, SA1 3LH 01792 455345.
According to the website, "Chicago Rock Cafe Swansea is one of the largest units in our estate, with a capacity of 980 persons including an 80-seater restaurant"
Children are allowed in the restaurant area during the daytime but after 6pm it's over 18's then after 10pm it's over 21 years.
*(I think the age goes up after a certain time to mainly attract a more mature group of party people. It could also be something to do with American Drinking laws -even though we are in Britain. I'm not too sure why but the older age group is also targeted in Luminar's other nightspot "Jumpin Jak's" where its over 21 years there too.)
#THE SWANSEA VENUE LAYOUT
As you walk in the main doors immediately in the foyer there are signed pictures of musicians of all genre and era. There are framed golden records or discs. (The framed photographs and also, replica instruments and guitars are a running theme throughout the venue.) Through the foyer doors you are faced with a centre all-round drinks bar.
At the right hand side is a comfy chair area and large windows on ground level. (When I say "comfy" I mean the padded armchairs with soft cushions. They are individually sized so it's nice to sink into your own space. The tables are moveable which is very handy.
Also along the right hand side is a wall area of long comfy chairs. These are cute little carved out areas along a single strip with a raised bench chair and table that cannot move.
To the left hand side there is a raised seating and tables area where food is served. On the restaurant platform you can see into the open kitchen which is great fun to watch if somebody's ordered a flame meal!
Carry on down to the back of the club and you're faced with another drinks bar in-front of a huge stage area. The stage area has a painted jazz band scenario and a huge screen for various events.
To the right hand side of the stage area is a small dance floor next to a little DJ box. Above this is a jaw dropping, wide wooden staircase that curves elegantly to the upper floor. On this floor there is another bar, a large seating area, a pool table and toilets.
There are wooden balconies all around, which you can spy on people down below, bopping about in front of the DJ box!
Along the walls in amongst all the musical memorabilia there are small TV screens. These often have fun little pop / entertainment quizzes where you can just answer verbally as it's just for fun!
New to open in the early summer of this year is an outside decking area where barbeques are being planned. I have yet to try out this feature so will keep you all posted!!
#DECOUR
Well, a dominate feature throughout is the music memorabilia along the walls.
Hard to spot in among all the rock/pop memorabilia are painted wall scenes featuring minstrels, jazz singers, and painted club scenes of dancing silhouettes. This scene is largely visible on the small seating area at the front of the club near the windows.
The comfy chairs are a bold red, blue and yellow and the walls are a plain blue. The venue is well lit with spotlights on table areas but hanging lights on the comfy chair area.
On the restaurant area the tables and chairs are decent straight-forward wooden sets in rectangular shapes. There are two circular tables.
Upstairs the walls are painted a bold red. Again there are bold colour comfy chairs. The bold colours are very effective against the wooden interior of the bars, balconies and staircases. Along the balconies there are wooden high bar stools.
The ladies toilets are a clean white tile was basin area, white flooring and the bold blue along the walls and cubicles. I'm not sure what the boys toilets look like I'm afraid and my guy is reluctant to tell me!
#MEALS
The restaurant area is non smoking and has a handy carpeted ramp for disabled customers.
The venue opens at 11 am and meals are available from 12 noon until 10pm. *To view the standard menu visit www.chicago-rock-café.co.uk.
Prices are a little bit higher than say, a "Wetherspoon's", but as with drinks there are special offers on most times. A current offer is two daytime meals for £5.95.
Children are allowed in the venue before 5pm and there is a cute menu especially for them. Also at the restaurant area, if there are children eating, a child's DVD is played on the screen closest to their table. This is a lovely touch.
*The last time I ate there was a good few months ago but I am visiting again this weekend so I will update then. :)
#VENUE HIRE
During the week if you are employed in a large enough company the WHOLE CLUB can be hired. This time last year I worked for Woolworths and all of the local stores of the South Wales areas all chipped in to hire the whole club. This was such a wild night! Because all the local stores have to work closely with each other, everybody knew the next person and to absolutely fill a club venue with employees working for the same firm is bound to be chaotic! (In a drunken, merry sort of way I mean!) For this night it was invitation only or refusal on entry and there was an oriental and eastern buffet laid out in the restaurant area. (Consisting of spring rolls, satay sticks, tikka bites of chicken and sweet chilli chicken pasties). A DJ was hired and as well as the usual presentations and awards from the area managers we had a late night disco until 12pm.
If you can't fill the whole venue, there is also the option to hire the whole of the upper floor during mid week.
As well as whole club or floor hire you can hire out a small section and they will close this section off (with the help of strategically placed chairs!).
Or if your party is still not large enough, small group bookings can be taken and they reserve your required area for you.
Small children's parties can now be arranged for the daytime and a little area will be sectioned off for them and a crayon pack supplied.
#SPORTING EVENTS
Oh my Gosh, get there early is all I can say!! During sporting events, the most recent being the Six Nations Rugby, the venue is bouncing! I strongly recommend a balcony area for the reasons: 1) you get a stool to sit on, 2) you can actually watch the game on the screens, 3) the bar is not far, 4) you have a drinks rest at hand, and, 5) the toilets are very near! Last year I made sure I could watch the games but this year I haven't bothered too much but I have still gone to Chicago for one game just to soak up the incredible atmosphere.
On large scale sporting events such as the rugby, (highly important to us patriotic lot!) there is often a live band who play before and after the games and the band are usually associated with the games. Like for example, when Wales played Ireland there was a U2 tribute band, then another time, when Wales played home there was a Stereophonics tribute group. (And so the theme continues in the drinks offers too. Example, offers on Guinness pitchers).
However, even though the atmosphere is cracking during a sports event, I have been slightly disappointed with the actual venues ability to cope, and I have actually witnessed several power surges at Chicago, and the power and lights have gone out! This is quite comical to experience as there's various French and Irish words hurtling around and aimed specifically at the DJ as if he is to blame!! I tend to keep out of the ructions during a power cut and just laugh to myself! The power cuts never last long anyway, so the party gets back on track quickly.
#OTHER EVENTS
There was recently a St. Patrick's celebration where Guinness merchandise was available to win with certain purchases of Irish based drinks. I don't like Guinness so I bought the merchandise on its own. (I don't know why I bought a crazy hat?!). During celebrations such as these, there are several drinks offers on.
For calendar events such as Mothers/Fathers day, meals in the restaurant are on offer such as a four course meal for a set price of £12.95 which includes a drink.
#LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Wow, I have seen some cracking tribute bands on the stage! I've seen Jam, Bon Jovi, Stereophonics, Iron Maiden, Police, Guns and Roses and Tina Turner tribute bands and they have played live with instruments and I have thoroughly enjoyed my night. Usually the bands don't start playing until 9.30pm and have an hour or so slot where the DJ finishes off the night.
As well as awesome tribute bands there have been several popular bands playing such as The Drifters, Peter Andre, The Blues Brothers, most recently the X-Factor semi-finalists Journey South. I've never managed to get tickets for the big name star events but was luck enough to get hold of Bananarama tickets only to be told they had cancelled the tour to Swansea Chicago!
A most recent fun event, coinciding with the popular TV show "The X Factor" Chicago Rock hosted its own local version every Wednesday night. Here local talent such as singers or groups performed in front of judges and were invited to participate in a UK finals event where the winner would receive record contracts and a promised tour within Chicago Rock Cafés throughout the UK. This was a good competition and shows what the club is willing to give back to its local supporters. I found all the acts to be very impressive and all offered a good quality
The majority of the live entertainment are bands and singers but I have also seen fantastic comedy groups who have told a few jokes or two then performed a comical song. They do have occasional stand up comedy dates but as I'm not really into stand up comedy, I haven't attended these events. Another new feature to Chicago is quiz and karaoke nights.
#TUNES?
The music base is cheesy, fun, and party. Throughout the night there is a variety of Diana Ross, Barry White, "Dirty Dancing/Grease," and silly songs such as "Star Trekin" or "Teeny yellow polka dot bikini".
The music sort of works its way up through time eras. We usually start with funky soul or mo-town (i.e., Barry White etc.), then go up to some classic disco such as "Working 9-5" or The Jackson's. The 80's hour comes around the time when everybody's spirits are souring and this is a great time. (In other words, when everyone is er…. Drunk!) During this hour we have Cyndi Lauper, Blondie and a classic Rock collection such as Gun's and Roses. I think this hour really brings everyone out of their shell, and it's really strange to see a packed dance floor with mullets and head-bangers!! Finally, at the end of the night its 90's cheesy pop such as "Relight my fire" or Bros.
During the songs the videos are played on the screens above the stage. This is a fun touch and creates an atmosphere even for those people far away from the dance floor. Sometimes the videos are shown on the seating area small screens but more often are the little quizzes.
The DJ is always happy to play what you ask him and will do crazy announcements for birthdays or works do's.
It's a cheesy tune club all week and you won't find any modern music or Garage/ RnB. No dance/trance music at all. Just silly, fun songs that everyone knows and can be nostalgic over! They used to have themed music nights where a Wednesday was always old Rock all night but the club has mixed the themes so everybody is happy on every night.
#THE ATMOSPHERE
The club tends to give of a friendly vibe. During the day, people can relax in a comfy sofa reading a magazine or rest after a shopping day and it's cosy. With quiet tunes playing in the background it makes you feel like you belong.
I've been to all the clubs Swansea has to offer but it's so different at Chicago. During a band performance people shout, clap, sing along, head-bang just like as though they are in a concert. This is fantastic to see people joining in with the band as it's rare in the other pubs. The general atmosphere during a band is hyped up, excited and happy.
During disco times, again the mood is fun and happy. People at this venue are clearly out for a good time, a song and a dance. I have never witnessed a fight or an argument in the Swansea Chicago rock but I did see a glass fight in the club in Stratford upon Avon, but the bouncers intervened. Thankfully, my local Chicago is a safe environment. On the note of feeling safe, my boyfriend rarely goes out anywhere as he has a certain funky image, with long hair and looks feminine. He feels afraid to go out in Swansea but in Chicago he feels safe. I think this is due to the mixed age range in the club. Chicago mostly appeals to those who are older as the music is of their eras.
I think this is another contribute to the fantastic atmosphere in the venue. The mixed ages means most of the revellers will be sensible and aware of the people around them. Fair play to the excellent bouncers. They can spot a trouble maker and disallow entry. There is also a security procedure in place called "Pub Watch" where a trouble maker is refused entry into a lot of local pubs for a limited time.
All the times I have been to the club I have never witnessed any fights, any rational behaviour, and anyone "off their face" on drugs. Chicago is a clean, safe place where bad behaviour is not welcome.
#THE WEBSITE - www.chicago-rock-cafe.co.uk
This is a great website. Not only can you view meals and prices but you can find out what events are coming up in the nearest club to you. There is a handy search venue option "Where we're at", where it gives you a detailed entertainment or events list of forthcoming events for that particular venue. Once you choose your venue the site has several options exclusive to that venue. There is a buy tickets option, an incredibly detailed map and directions option, and handy contact details.
I strongly recommend you sign up for their mail as they send you fantastic drinks tokens and handy leaflets on events coming up.
#PRICES?
For drinks it can be expensive if you're not drinking the ones on special offer. However, before you order your drinks, I would highly recommend you ask the bar person if there are any offers on. I was lucky one night as I asked if spirits were on offer (I drink Whiskeys) and they were buy one get one free. Another time I have had a free shot with the purchase of a soft drink (90pence for a small coke).
The drinks offers are excellent if your drink is on the offer but when I was unlucky, my whiskey and coke cost £2.25, which is ok if you're planning to limit your alcohol content.
The drinks offers are completely pot luck I'm afraid! There seems to be little consistency with the offers which keeps the customers on their toes I suppose but could loose the revellers who like the weekly events. I personally am not too bothered that they change the offers regularly as long as they keep the drinks prices the same.
On a Saturday night over recent trips I paid £2.25 for double "House" whiskey and coke. I paid £2.65 for a double Jameson and coke there after. If, like me your drink ranges in taste, age and value always ask for "house" which is the cheapest version. There is a permanent offer on House Wine where you buy 2 glasses; you get the rest of the bottle free.
A trick of mine to keep up to date with the drinks offers is to join the Chicago mailing list. You can get on this by having a daytime meal and filling in a card or another way is to check their website and choose to be informed there. I have been sent "free drinks" tokens, "half price drinks before 10pm" vouchers and "buy one get another shot free" tokens so it is well worth joining as I save a lot of money through these tokens.
*Be crafty, and remember "if you don't ask, you don't get!" Make sure you find out on the night what the offers are and what time they finish. Use your drinks tokens, they will save you a lot, and check the small TV screens regular as they display all the drinks offers.
#BAR STAFF
The bar staff are extremely friendly and know their drinks well. They know the cocktails and they will tell you all the drinks offers. They even warn you when a drinks offer is due to finish.
The bar staff are incredibly fast serving even on a busy night as there is always plenty behind the bar. The bar downstairs is circular so this helps the swift serving time.
They ask "ice and slice?" (A slice of lemon or lime), or "all the way up?" (When adding a mixer such as coke. Little questions such as these show me they make the effort to get everyone's drink right according to the customer's individual tastes.
Another great thing about the staff is they recognise faces and know who was in the queue first. They even recognise your drink and I was asked "same again?!" This makes me feel so special and wanted as a valued customer. A lot of clubs in Swansea have horrible bar staff with a rude attitude, but the ones in Chicago want to say hello, they want to make your night fun. The bar staff even dance on the stage at some points throughout the night and this really gets everybody's spirits up and ready to party. They make polite conversation each time which is excellent service - the poor guys must be shattered though!
#CLEANLINESS?
The toilets on both floors are always kept very clean. There is always toilet paper available and a bar staff will come provide some if there is not.
If a drink is spilled, or a glass smashed, the bar staff are super fast to clear away the debris. They even have the sense to warn all those people around the area about the danger.
Food is cleared from tables fast and all unattended drinks are collected. This is a great idea as it's not nice to be spiked in a club so the staff at Chicago really protect us revellers from the dangers. Fortunately, this sort of thing never happens in the club but it's nice to know the staff will look after you.
#OTHER BITS OF INTEREST
Throughout the club and at the entrance are friendly bouncers. They always welcome you and wish you a good night on leaving. They are also extremely helpful if you are er…. "Worse for wear" in the toilets! On a rare occasion I was ill in the toilets but the bouncers were so friendly in helping me out! Even though it was closing time anyway, I felt that they were never pushy for me to leave. If anything, the lady bouncer made a joke about me being ill, but that was fine - it was my fault for drinking so much anyway!!
There is a disabled toilet on the ground floor with a carpeted ramp leading into the restaurant area. There is also a disabled toilet at the back of the stage area where a laminate floor leads to it.
There is a "who wants to be a millionaire?" game machine as well as a pub quiz machine, two fruit machines and a phone download gamer. These are dotted around the club.
There is a cash point (which charges £1.50 per use), a cigarette machine and a Pringles' crips machine inside. There is also a cloakroom nearby.
#SO WHY DO I LOVE THE PLACE SO MUCH??
Well, it's got so much choice for me personally, and for my friends. I have enjoyed sitting by myself for a nice meal during the day and have enjoyed many disco nights with my friends. Even though I am a Whiskey drinker, I actually find my night to be in the reasonable regions of £20 for the drinks (then £10 for a taxi). I find this a good price for a good night out as I know a lot of people that will easily spend over £40 on drinks alone.
I love the atmosphere and the fun, safe environment in which to party and dance. The music is silly but really helps get everyone into a silly mood! Silly is a great thing here! I personally hate modern music and really hate the music they play in nearly all of the clubs nowadays. I am stuck in the past I'm afraid, and to me there is nothing better than a cheesy tunes night out! This venue is perfect!
#SOUNDS GOOD, IS THERE ONE NEAR ME?
Well, you'll be surprised on how many Chicago Rock Cafés there are dotted around the UK. There are three in Wales (Swansea, Wrexham and Cardiff), one on the Isle of Wight and many of the remaining in most major towns such as Bristol, Birmingham areas, and even Jersey. A total of almost 60 venues are dotted around so there's bound to be one not far from home! Check their website for your nearest.
If you like silly, party music that you just want to dance like an idiot to then Chicago is your ideal night out! Give it a go and remember "Don't dismiss it, 'till you've tried it!!"
