Bar des Arts to Close and Re-open as Kokomo

Published on: 8 Sep, 2015
Updated on: 10 Sep, 2015

Bar des Arts, Millbrook – soon to close

A well known Guildford bar will be under new management from next month (October, 2015) onwards.

Bar des Arts, which is located opposite the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Millbrook, will be refurbished and re-named as Kokomo. It will continue providing cocktails and live music.

Sara Burks – Bar des Arts co-owner.

Sara Burks, the current co-owner of the bar, said: “Since Richard Gouget and I took over the site to create Bar des Arts in 2010 we have built it up to be one of Guildford’s most sophisticated night spots, melding the arts with the bar environment and creating a place where people can see a range of performers and entertainment while enjoying champagne or a cocktail.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to see the bar grow into what it is today and we have met some fabulous customers, staff and performers along the way. Guildford has welcomed us and we have benefited from great customer support and loyalty and made some lifelong friends.

“Richard and I would like to thank everyone who has visited us, performed for us or worked for us during the past five years, and we want to let people know this is not the last you’ll see of us. We wish Kokomo great success and will be among the first to visit the new cocktail bar once it re-opens.”

The bar will be under refurbishment throughout October and November and will open again as normal once work is complete, in time for Christmas.

The upstairs gallery and meeting rooms will also be refurbished.

For more information, call Bar des Arts, which is located opposite the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Millbrook, on 01483 453227, log on to www.facebook.com/Bar.Des.Arts.GU1 or follow the bar on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/BarDesArts_GU1.

One regular customer said: “This is a really sad event for Guildford. It was one of the nicest places in the town to go for a drink with the bonus of fun staff and great live entertainment.”

It is understood that changing the name of the bar is to allow the current owners to retain the right to re-open another “Bar des Arts”, some time in the future should they want to. There is also speculation that one of the reasons behind the sale is a proposed rent increase and that the new bar Kokomo might target a younger clientèle.

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