THE owner of a new restaurant and nightclub in Swindon has given the Adver a peek inside the premises while celebrating receiving top marks in a food hygiene inspection.
Power Lounge owner Bal Kumari-Roka has welcomed customers to the outdoor garden diner and indoor dancefloor while putting the finishing touches to the upstairs area.
Bal started working on her new business during the pandemic while juggling studies and placements as a trainee nurse, with her partner Sandeep offering a helping hand.
She will be taking a year off from her training to focus on the Power Lounge then return to the healthcare job once the business is properly established.
Bal said: “I’ve always been independent though I have struggled to get to where I am now, but that struggle is my main motivation to do more because it made me realise I wanted to do something with my life.
“I worked two jobs for years and saved up to finance all this myself. I told my former boss that one day I’d like to run my own bar and she called me after seeing me in the Adver to say ‘you did it!’
“I loved my other job as a nurse but the pressure from both jobs was too much to handle. At first, I was afraid this might not go well but it has slowly picked up, the takeaway service during lockdown went really well, we’re getting regular customers and we’ve had good feedback, so far so good.”
Club nights have been held in the six weeks since the Bridge Street venue first fully opened and the Turkish and Asian cuisine served up out the back has gone down well.
After getting a rating of five from the food hygiene authority, Bal is looking forward to the future of what she hopes will become a well-known venue that lasts longer than Edge and Boston Brothers, which used to be based in the same location.
She added: “I’ve invested so much into this, I’m going to make sure it goes well because this is a long-term project.and will take time, it’s not going to be a success overnight.
“People have been eager to go out again, some from as far as Oxford and Bath after they saw our social media posts.
"They come for the food, which is our main attraction right now, then stay for a night out. We want good vibes and will ensure there’s no trouble.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel