A late night bar is coming to Redcar – with a cast that reads like a who’s who of international DJs.
Funky Monkey has taken over the old Steel Bay pub in town.
Its new owner says the venue will be “all about the music” – and alongside well-known local DJs, there will be some standout names from the house music world.
Paul Taylor, Brandon Block, Jeremy Healy, Alistair Whitehead, K Klass and DJs from Defected and Glitterbox are planned.
The venue is also “in talks” with other well-known DJs.
Owner Paul knows Teesside bars and clubs inside out, having managed many of them himself for a couple of decades.
He ran venues in Teesside and Darlington.
Now he’s opened his own space after being “tired of making other people’s money”.
He said, “I come from that background, I’ve always done clubs and events for 25 years.
“A couple of years ago I spoke to Andy, a good promoter friend of mine, and told him I was going to open somewhere.
“He said ‘do you need a hand with that’ – and that’s it.”
The High Street venue that’s now Funky Monkey popped up on Rightmove and Paul went for it.
The venue has been completely renovated
(Image: Teessidelive)
“It was hard work getting it to get the deal done,” he says, “then the pandemic hit.”
A massive renovation began and the old bar was put straight back into its shell.
“We had rotation jumps outside the front,” adds Paul, “it was absolute chaos.
“But I knew it had the bones of what I needed.
“My son helped me too – he’s only three.
“He loved it, he came in every day and did a little.
“Some close friends who work in different professions also helped where they could.
“And we got it to where we are now.
“I think it will be the nicest bar in town.
Paul’s three year old helps with the renovation
(Image: Gazette)
“The venues were very big everywhere – very small back then, now we’re somewhere in the middle.
“We want people to come in and feel like it’s all about the music.
“Nice drinks are a bonus – cocktails, nice beers, we’ll do all of that.
“But we are very firmly guided by the music.”
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On the subject of matching items
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On the subject of matching items
A little more fine-tuning, and Funky Monkey is ready to open.
But Paul says it won’t open once the lockdown wears off.
“I kept to my guns,” he says.
“I can’t open the way I want – so I’d rather wait for Boris to say the date is June 21st.
“I don’t want to open for 20 people.”
The invitation-only launch of Funky Monkey will be on July 1st, followed by an official opening this weekend.