Hotel group Firmdale installs karaoke at two London venues
A Lucky Voice Singstation has been installed at both Firmdale’s Soho Hotel, and the recently-launched Ham Yard Hotel.
Set up in the Ham Yard Hotel’s bar, the Croc, the karaoke system captures and complements the fun of the room, PR manager Sally Swadling claimed.
She said: “Alongside our four-lane bowling alley and colourful design of the room, guests find it easy to get involved and make the most of singing time on the dance floor.
“The interactive system is easy to use and requires little staff handling.”
Singstations
Lucky Voice said it now operates in 120 karaoke rooms across the UK, Ireland and Australia, up from just 17 in 2007. It opened its first private room karaoke venue in Soho, in June 2005.
North London-based operator Electric Star has adopted Lucky Voice Singstations at two of its sites – the Star of Bethnal Green and the Star by Hackney Downs – and there are plans to add it to the Star of Kings, in Kings Cross.
Steve Macri, head of operations at Electric Star, claimed that Singstation puts his venues on the radar of new audience sectors.
He said: “Karaoke transcends fashion really – sing-a-longs in bars have been around as long as pubs have. Every bit of unused space costs us money, but this helps us make it.”
Mayfair celebrity joint Mahiki another believer in the power of karaoke, having retained its Singstation after a recent refurbishment.
Global brand director Sarah Hyde claimed it brings a sense of fun to a night out.
She said: “No matter who they are, our customers love to let their hair down after a few cocktails, and karaoke just adds that extra touch of uniqueness to their Mahiki experience. It’s another thing that sets us apart.”
Soho spread
Nick Jones, head of B2B solutions at Lucky Voice, said that when Lucky Voice bars launched in 2005, there were just 14 karaoke rooms within three miles of its Soho venue. Now there are around 60, with more being added all the time.
He said: “There’s no denying that the last few years have been challenging for the hospitality industry. Now things are picking up, we’re left with consumers that want a more event-led night out, while business owners are looking to pre-booked revenue to control cash flow.”
Jones added: “Lucky Voice helps businesses offer something unique and memorable to their customers, and monetises space. With our own bar heritage, we also understand the challenges faced by business owners, which is why we place such an emphasis on post-purchase customer care.”
