'A very special place': Behind the scenes at The Bodega

AWARD-WINNING VENUE IS LOVED BY MUSIC FANS, STAFF AND THE BANDS WHO PLAY THERE

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

IF you've ever been to watch a band play at any of Nottingham’s bigger music venues - whether its the legendary Rock City or the 10,000 capacity Motorpoint Arena - there's a very likely chance they once graced the stage of The Bodega.

Synonymous with the city’s buzzing music scene, cheap pints and raucous club nights, the city centre venue - which first opened as The Social in 1999 - has become somewhat of a rite of passage for bands and artists across the UK to play, and for keen music fans to visit.

After more than 25 years, it’s recently been recognised as the UK’s Grassroots Live Music Venue of the Year at the Music Week Awards. An award voted for by the public, many hold the Pelham Street venue close to their hearts.

Bands of the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay played The Bodega in the early stages of their careers, performing to its modest capacity of around 220 in the small and intimate upstairs room.

Meanwhile in the bar downstairs, pints of the venue’s popular ‘Bodega Lager’ flow as the crew get ready for the club nights which last until 3am.

There's clearly a lot to consider and prepare for before the main doors open for gigs at 6.30pm.

“My kids joke and say I just count bottles all day - it's not like that. There's a lot of things that go into the running of it behind the scenes,” says Steve Walsh, the venue's general manager.

He's worked at The Bodega on-and-off since it opened, and, when asked to come back 12 years ago, he says he “jumped at the chance” to manage the much-loved venue.

“There’s the initial booking of the band, then getting the gig on sale and promoting it,” he added.

“I'm generally the glue that holds it all together and I employ the right people to do the right jobs.