A new beat at Old Drumbank
Opening a coffee shop was one of the last things on Pat Muncaster’s mind when he and some friends took over the empty Drumbank Studios nearly four years ago. But after opening in September, the cafe now forms a social hub and community space in the revitalised building on Sommerville Road.
Around a dozen people work in the six studios and work spaces behind the cafe and record shop that show the public face of the business, which operates as a non-profit social enterprise. It came about as a result of the covid pandemic, and an urgent need to find new opportunities.
Pat says: “I’d been running a cafe business at music festivals since 2013, but when the pandemic came along that ground to a halt. We lost two years of business – it was touch and go for quite a while.
“We took on the lease here at Drumbank and spent six months renovating the place, which was in a real state. But we knew there was demand for studio space here and had a few tenants lined up.
“There’s still very little money in it, but we have loads of plans to improve”.
A long-term resident of Montpelier, but now living in Stroud (“We couldn’t afford Bristol”), Pat has had a long career in hospitality. He previously managed the backpackers’ hostel at the Full Moon on Stokes Croft, but his festival cafe business remains the mainstay. Called Once In A Blue Moon, it’s a fixture at big events including Glastonbury, Shambala and The Green Gathering.
Pottery and artworks made by artists resident at the Old Drumbank are available for sale in the cafe space, which also started hosting events including a weaving workshop.
Alongside the cafe is Hot Wax Records, opened in October by Nathan Worm (“It’s not my real name but that’s what I’m called”). A DJ and music promoter, for the past 10 years Nathan has run Worm Disco Club, staging events at bars, clubs and festivals including Glastonbury and Shambala.
Hot Wax specialises in jazz and funk records in both original vinyl and new pressings, including LPs on Nathan’s own Worm Discs label featuring well-known local acts such as Snazzback and Waldo’s Gift.
Nathan says: “We decided to give Worm Disco Club a rest, so I was looking for my next project and when I saw this space a record shop seemed the right thing.
“We’re also selling quality prints and books, and I’m hoping to add clothing and other things too”.
More information on Old Drumbank Studios here.
