A BUSINESS duo have launched a new venture which will take Islanders back to a simpler time when Jersey clubs were packed and Elton John was topping the charts…
Stani and Brian Smith, the couple behind The Blind Pig speakeasy and the recently closed Ce Soir, have opened the doors to their new 1970s-inspired cocktail bar.
The Melting Pot has a “futuristic 70s vibe” – a concept that the Smiths dreamed up almost a decade ago when they were creating Ce Soir, which closed its doors in the summer.
Mr Smith also co-founded bars such as Rojos – which recently also announced its closure – and set up drinks brand Forbidden Cocktails during the pandemic.
Qualified accountant Mrs Smith met her husband-to-be shortly after he opened The Blind Pig, and she soon stepped in to help with the administrative and financial aspects of the business.
“We soon realised that our individual strengths complemented each other very well,” she explained.
“In 2014, we opened Ce Soir and when I became pregnant a couple of years later, juggling a full-time job in finance and our businesses got difficult and I decided to focus entirely on our family business.”
Their newest venture, The Melting Pot, is located in Caledonia Place next to The Troubadour pub.
Mr and Mrs Smith explained the inspiration behind the bar: “There have been a couple of exciting decades in the last century that are timeless – the Roaring 20s was definitely a decade that shaped our socialising and cocktail world, but the stylish, funky 1970s was a decade full of colour, style and a very special time for music and social movements.”
After covering the 1920s speakeasy theme with The Blind Pig, the couple decided that it was “a no-brainer to create a venue for our 70s senses” with The Melting Pot.
Mr and Mrs Smith said: “We think it’s important to transport your clientèle away into another timeless decade – escapism, even if it’s after work for an hour or so.”
The couple promised a “similar service vibe” to The Blind Pig which “aims to offer table service in a very relaxed environment”.
The Melting Pot is open Wednesday to Friday from 3pm to 1am, and Saturdays from 4pm to 1am.
