BBB is given JBL makeover from Sound Division
Beach Blanket Babylon (or BBB as it is affectionately known) occupies an old Georgian house in the heart of Notting Hill. Established in 1990, its eclectic décor of French country chateau combined with Gaudiesque architecture, and its selection of different dining rooms known as The Crypt, The Scullery, The Chapel, The Gallery and the Ballroom (which is used for private events) make it one of the most prestigious and unusual gothic destinations in London.
Recently the owners sensed that in order to keep BBB firing on all cylinders they needed to improve their sound system. And so they returned to their long-term A/V suppliers, the Sound Division Group (SDG).
The relationship with BBB developed over a three-year period since they were first introduced by near neighbours (and fellow SDG clients), Adam and Charles Breeden from the award-winning Lonsdale.
Initially the audio visual specialists upgraded the system at Dollar Grills and Martinis in Exmouth Market to JBL, and helped deal with the venue's sound leakage problems. They followed this up by installing two Phillips 42in plasma screens in the venue, and then four LG 32in LCD displays at Beach Blanket Babylon for last year's FIFA World Cup.
Because BBB's position in Notting Hill the venue has been going through a renaissance and BBB felt now was the time to act, when people are paying top end prices at BBB they expect the best of everything — including the sound quality.
When BBB is really rocking on a Friday and Saturday night the restaurant expects to serve up to 450 covers with modern European style cuisine. DJs are brought in to spice up the mix.
Having carried out a site survey, Sound Division Group specified a JBL rig to integrate with the existing set-up. With so many private dining areas, the company opted for a five-zoned system, recommending industry-standard Pioneer CDJ-800 CD players and Allen & Heath XONE:62 — housed in a DJ 'coffin' for use as necessary. The DJ system is set up by the main bar and plugged into the house system via a remote input point.
Over the main bar at the entrance four JBL Control 29AV's provide the foreground sound, powered by two existing QSC amplifiers. Elsewhere a pair of Crown-powered JBL Control 28's in the Chapel, Control 25's in the Kitchen and Gallery, and Control 25AV's in the Crypt provide the aural food to accompany the culinary type. Right down in the lower basement level, the Crypt is also enhanced by a JBL SB2 (1 x 10in) sub, BBB are in the process of requesting further bass extension for other areas.
An additional Cloud CX163 now accompanies the existing Cloud Z4, which serves as a conventional mixer/router for the signal sources, while the background system is EQ'd using dbx's popular dbx 215. A further dbx 2215 controls the ground floor bar, where a limiting feature is required for the sound.
Said David Graham, "We always try and achieve maximum value for money for the client, and where possible integrate an existing system into the new architecture; this has been particularly effective at Beach Blanket Babylon."
Beach Blanket Babylon are delighted with the result. "David Graham and his staff at Sound Division are very skilled and 100% reliable," enthused director Robert Newmark, and his partner Graham Rebak. "If we are suddenly asked to host a special event or showcase and need extra equipment they will respond immediately; they are always on call."
Although Beach Blanket Babylon is currently developing a second operation on the other side of London their existing world of objets d'art will continue to evolve. "When BBB was acquired some years ago we were determined to convert it into a pure baroque theatre, the next phase we will put a glass roof over the rear garden area to enlarge our capacity as we need more customer space."
May 2007