A new bar/restaurant called AV8 has been set up on the demilitarised RAF Kemble airfield, just south of Cirencester.

Run by Kemble Air Services, the largest privately-owned airfield in the UK is now being re-established as an enterprise park. AV8, a glass-fronted building which operates in a converted fire station, which opened initially to serve the existing businesses on the park, has now expanded its scope to serve the general public and corporate guests, offering a full a la carte menu.

The venue was designed by Simon Radclyffe of Radclyffe Associates, while the sound reinforcement — based around Martin Audio components — was
installed by CAV (Contract Audio Visual).

A visual, rather than physical division separates the main bar, restaurant and café, wrapped around the curved wall, and this enables the venue to be used as a single space for private hire or corporate events when necessary.

CAV were recommended to the project by locally-based hi-fi company, Acoustic Energy. The two eating areas — which flank the bar — form a single sound zone while the bar is on its own separate zone, the Denon multiplay CD sound source switched by a Cloud CX242 two-zone mixer.

The company opted for four black Martin Audio EM26’s in each of the two dining areas (one wall-mounted on special brackets in each corner) operating as two stereo pairs. A further two EM26’s provide the sound in the bar.

CAV managing director, Hans Beier, said, “We conducted an onsite demo with another leading brand and the EM26’s won. They offered better quality sound, were more directional than the competing speaker and had low visual impact. And when used in multiples the EM26’s seem to work particularly well.”

The Stroud company also supplied the architectural lighting control based around a Pulsar Masterpiece Replay and Anytronics dimmers, providing the venue with a 12-way keypad to access different lighting presets. The lighting design was undertaken by Ollie Metcalfe, who is also the Manic Street Preachers’ LD.

This follows Simon Radclyffe’s design theme, which is based around vibrant yellows and blues (to create the ‘holiday’ idea implied by an airfield), softened by fabric and large ribs (inspired by Airfix kits).

“With its new entrance, glass frontage and double doors it creates an amazing presence,” says Simon.