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Smoke & Mirrors Bar – Bristol

There are a few threads on TM about Illusions Bar in Bristol but I thought I ought to mention Smoke & Mirrors, also in Bristol (website is http://www.smokeandmirrorsbar.co.uk/ )– both are owned by the same chap, Mark Bennett.

All the details are on the website, I was there last night to see John Archer’s utterly superb comedy magic act, and it was a great event. The theatre area is quite compact, twelve tables of four persons each by the look of it, and the stage is on similarly compact lines. As John said, it was like he was performing in his front room bay window at home! As a result, the magic is a cross between parlour, cabaret and close up with the audience very much part of the magic rather than just viewing it. In conversation with a couple of the audience members afterwards, it was good to hear that they’d enjoyed the show so much they wanted suggestions as to which of the magicians they should see next.

There are regular performances by the House Magicians four times a month and guest performers once a month. Names this year so far are:
John Archer, Matthew Wright, Rob James, Kockov, Wayne Goodman, Alan Hudson, Morgan and West, Chris Rawlins.

Check out the forthcoming events from time to time and schedule at least one visit to this bar, it’s well worth it. Plenty of local parking, free and to pay for and oodles of eating places to choose from. Tickets can be bought just for the magic or to also include a selection of very quaffable house wines. Book well in advance as these shows sell out very swiftly indeed!

Was at the illusions magic bar back in 2011, was a really good night.. I even managed to show off a few of my skills on the night.. A free service of course.

It's very tempting to suggest that there should be an equivalent of Illusions or Smoke and Mirrors bar in every city!

That would be sooo handy.. I'm very surprised it never took off all over the UK to be fair.. I think there was another in Manchester, but think that closed.??

No doubt the business side of things has to be handled very expertly but last night that bar was rammed with people - some just there for the live music and table hopping magic. Other than the magic nights, I guess the place has to turn a profit based on sale of drinks and pub snacks like any other bar but the novelty of a small theatre and cabaret shows seems to be quite long lasting. A really enterprising entrepreneur might want to give it a go.....

Hmm, fair point.. The night I was there was a Thursday and it was very busy also.. Mostly people enjoying the magic, and a few were just enjoying a few beers.. It seems that even today, business here is going well.. I could imagine something like this in London, at the right location really making a fortune on profits if plenty of homework is done.. Surprised nobody as yet has jumped at this chance..

I suppose one way of testing the waters would be to find a suitably placed pub and see if they'd be happy to be 'taken over' one night a month and put on a magic evening. I have no idea how much a pub would cost to buy/rent/whatever!

Good question.. If you was to rent a pub for the evening I think you would have to rent on a quite night?? Hopefully the people/locals would not mind?? I wonder how much it would be to hire a pub for the evening..

Hmmm - I think I'm talking myself into something here......

Well I'm all ears..

I suspect that a pub with a function room that could be used for a cabaret/parlour/stage show may be willing to let you have it for free on the promise of bar sales. Add the carrot of free strolling entertainment in the public bar too and I don't think you'd have much difficulty in persuading them to give it a try. You could even offer to pay the function room hire if the bar sales don't tally up.

Sweet. I've just moved to Bristol.

Many pubs/bars will offer free hire of a room in return for a guaranteed minimum spend at the bar. Smoke & Mirrors offer this for the whole pub!

SpareJoker wrote:Sweet. I've just moved to Bristol.

Not only are you close to the entertainment, you might even get a chance to work there!