Martin Gilbert of Miss Q’s

Late last year, Miss Q’s bar landed in Earls Court. Its impact and enormous growth over the months is not terribly surprising given the high-end design and its unique combination of enticements. Not only is it a great bar and pool hall but it is home to live music, film screenings and photo exhibitions.

The phenomenal success it has enjoyed since opening is due to the calibre of the team behind the venue. The design of the place was undertaken by the prestigious Paul Daly Design Studio, responsible for The Elbow Rooms and Shoreditch’s Roadtrip, while General Manager Martin Gilbert has held a similar role at some of London’s best music venues and nightspots.

Martin, how did you first become involved in the venture?

‘I was headhunted. Paul Daly and I have known each other for quite a long time and when his design studio was commissioned to do the design for the venue, things went from there.’

There is a lot going on at Miss Q’s with the bar, the pool and the live music. Is it hard to combine all of that into a single identity?

‘No, not at all. The variety that we have here makes it even more enticing for people to come down. And I think that is shown in the amount of success that we have had. And I’m not just talking financially. We’ve seen a massive growth in popularity that has exceeded all of our initial expectations. We’re also taking on a lot of corporate entertainment as we’re seen as a one-stop shop for a lot of stuff that people enjoy.’

Are you any good at pool yourself?

‘Well I’m starting to be. To begin with, I had to force myself to stay away from the tables and get on with all the work that needed doing. But as things have settled down and everything’s got a bit less manic, I’m getting more and more enticed.’

How do you go about choosing the live acts for Miss Q’s?

‘We have a booker called John Fossey. In accordance with our licence, we have to keep to acoustic sets. We predominantly get acts that are well known within the music industry and fit in with our theme of rock n’ roll. Our focus is mainly Americana and retro stuff but we do have a big variety of acts.’

How does Miss Q’s compare to your previous work at places like KOKO?

‘Although it’s a third of the size, it’s equally as crazy. And it has been a unique experience for me, being involved from when it was all just a building site right up to its daily running. It’s a very full-on job and I have to be wearing three or four caps at any one time, managing staff and making sure that everything is running smoothly. But I have the good fortune to have a great team around me.’

What other venues have you managed?

‘I spent a year in Brazil, setting up a bar and private members’ club. In London I set up Shoeless Joe’s, a bar combining sports and fine dining. I was also involved with Paparrazzi Lounge, which was exceptionally busy for its size. Other than that, many other restaurants, bars, hotels and cruise ships.’

Having worked at so many music venues, what is the attraction of live music for you?

‘It’s the pleasure I get out of setting everything up and arranging all the different facets that go into live music. I probably get more enjoyment out of the process that goes into putting bands on rather than actually watching. There’s so much that goes on in terms of sitting down to a meeting, crossing the Ts and dotting the Is, getting all the contracts sorted. Then it comes down to the actual day of the concert and you’re having to deal with stroppy roadies, pushy managers and reps. It’s the stress of the day that makes it so rewarding when you can put on something fantastic that people enjoy.’

Who would your ideal line-up at Miss Q’s consist of?

‘First off, I’d say The Killers, because it was such a pleasure working with them and the same goes for Kasabian who are really fantastic and so easy to get on with. I’d also include Prince as well. When I was at KOKO, we had a last minute call from his people saying that he wanted to play the venue the following night. We moved mountains to get everything done and it ended up being a complete success.’

Miss Q’s
180-184 Earl’s Court Road
Earl’s Court
SW5 9QG

Tel: 020 7370 2841