If the frontman of Blossoms was ever going to open a bar, surely it could only ever be in Stockport? And now, hidden away on a historic cobbled backstreet in Stockport's Old Town lies Bohemian Arts Club - a sophisticated cocktail den created by Tom Ogden and his wife Katie.
It was announced late last year that the couple - who met and married in the town - planned to open their own cocktail bar and salon in their native Stockport on Lower Hillgate in the burgeoning Underbanks district. And after two years of hard graft, the pair - with support from families, friends, and those in the know - have transformed a derelict space on Coopers Brow into a design-led cocktail bar with nods to their jet-setting lifestyle and home comforts.
Set to open its doors this weekend, the three-storey building situated opposite Yellowhammer Bakery and Top of the Town Vintage - the latter owned by Sophia Rosemary, the fiance of Tom's bandmate Joe Donovan (who is also Katie's brother) - features not only a bar, but a ground-floor salon too - the second site for Katie's popular Hazel Grove brand Bohemian.
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Accessed by a entrance on the hidden away Coopers Brow, the bar element has been inspired by secret speakeasies from across the globe that Tom and Katie have visited whilst Tom toured with Blossoms. Step inside the glamorous space and you're instantly transported to a venue that feels reminiscent of a hidden Parisian bar, with terracotta walls, mirror-tiled doors and ceilings and marbled surfaces.
Designed entirely by Katie, the venue, which seats just 30 people, has been given an intimate and romantic feel with plush fabrics, marble window frames, Art Deco-style light fixtures, and heart-shaped chairs hand-made by Katie’s mum and dad. Taking the stairs up to the top floor, a pop of colour is added through contemporary prints, a collection of Assouline travel books and a large flower arrangement.
"I love that Hollywood regency-style of interior and we wanted something fun an playful, but also with beautiful marble elements and exposed plaster, says Katie. "Honestly, I just love it."
"We're from the area and we don't think there's anything like this in Stockport," says Katie. I've always wanted to open my own bar and salon and having visited cool speakeasies, tiny little bars and spaces, we knew exactly what style we wanted for our own."
“Katie and I met and married in Stockport, it’s where everything started for the band, it’s our home town; the place means a lot to us," adds Tom.
"It's nice to do something in your own town and obviously we've always been big champions of Stockport, so it's nice to play our part in putting it on the map - plus everyone around here is really sound."
Referred to by some as the ‘Soho of the North’, the part of town that Bohemian finds itself in - spanning Little Underbank, Mealhouse Brow and Lower Hillgate - has changed considerably over the last five years and is often credited with breathing new life into the town. A raft of independent operators have moved into the historic district, which now boasts bakeries, boutiques and bars.
"There’s something special in the air at The Underbanks; the shops, restaurants and bars opening here have a certain charm about them, as do the people visiting.," says Tom. "When we found this spot we knew it was perfect for the vision we had in mind and we can’t wait to welcome in guests to our own little gem in the heart of the town that holds such a special place in our hearts.”
The small but perfectly formed cocktail menu, meanwhile, pays tribute to the pair's roots, families and important moments for the couple.
"We can't take all the credit for the cocktails, we worked with a bar consultant called Nick who we met on an off chance in a bar in town, when we were first thinking of opening the bar. We've given him pointers with names and things that are special to us and he's ran with it.
"For example, 'Raucous Dorcas' is Katie's gran and 'Mon Marion', which is for my grandparents, Monica and Marion. It's drinks that they've liked that Nick has spun into cocktails with those personal touches.
"The Stockport link is there too so 'Self-Taught Fred' for tennis player Fred Perry and that's a bit of a Pimms take. And then nods to Blossoms with 'Ode to NYC', which is one of my tunes, and where we found places like this."
Other drinks include 'Feral', a cheeky tribute to Katie’s dad, ‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’, a nod to Roald Dahl and the couple's dog George, and 'Plaza', a tip of the cap to Stockport's famous music venue where Blossoms have launched all of their albums. The refined list sits alongside a selection of classic cocktails, wines and beers all delivered via table service.
Moving into the ground floor of the building, which is accessed off of Lower Hillgate, is Katie’s much popular hair salon - Bohemian. Having opened 12 years ago in Hazel Grove, Bohemian has established itself as the go-to salon for Stockport and the surrounding areas.
With Katie’s reputation as an experienced stylist and colour technician, alongside a team of passionate and experienced stylists and colourists, it's built a strong reputation over the years across Stockport and beyond. Now opening a second site, the salon invites customers to enjoy a relaxed experience in beautiful surroundings - and you can even order yourself a drink from upstairs to sip while you're pampered.
Bohemian Arts Club will open its doors on Saturday, May 27. It will be open 5pm-11.30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-1.30am on Fridays, 2pm-1.30am on Saturdays, and 2pm-11.30pm on Sundays. The bar works on a booking-only system.
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