8 March 2018
With 100,000 people on main campus during O-Week it was the baptism of fire for the sparkly new venue and its bright-eyed debutant staff. The beers were flowing and our new food offering – Thirsty Burger was a major hit.
Assistant Bar Manager Dom was stoked with the commercial opening “So many familiar faces mixing it with the freshers made for an awesome vibe”. Looking around, it was peculiar for the seasoned staff like Dom to realise that for many students the reopening was just an opening, having never stepped foot in the Roundy if their studies commenced after June 2016.
Nonetheless, new friends quickly became regulars as their university routines were locked in. Between live DJs in the Beergarden, t-shirts being given away and more free pool than you can poke a stick at there was something for everyone.
The week also debuted the production capacity of the new space with various configurations tested on student audiences. Monday night saw the Main Room transformed into a surround sound cinema seating 1,200 to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Tuesday welcomed crowd favourite Matt Okine’s comedic stylings, and Wednesday raised the roof with Furnace & The Fundamentals. Furnace delivered one of their quintessential vibrant shows that included singalongs, conga lines and droves of energy.
Then, our sold-out Start of Session Party was the final piece of reopening puzzle. Nearly 2,200 students hit the Roundhouse to dance the night away in their Hawaiian shirt finest. Jesabel and POOLCLVB had rip-roaring fresh sets across three epic dancefloors. We are now confident that Roundhouse is ready for anything as we look forward to St Pat’s Day, Arj Barker, San Cisco and Northlane in the next fortnight.
