Glitch, Bicester’s exciting new entertainment, cocktails and music bar opens tomorrow (Friday 30 October) on Crown Walk, brought to you by the team behind the incredibly successful Monty’s Burger Bar, and judging by its soft launch already looks set to be a massive success.
expect virtual darts, shuffle boards, table tennis, music, nibbles, sharing boards, cocktails, drinks and fun.
You can expect virtual darts, shuffle boards, table tennis, music, nibbles, sharing boards, cocktails, drinks, fun, and a great atmosphere when Glitch finally opens it’s doors after a 10 month refurbishment.
Opened by Monty Guesmi and his partner Oana, the couple felt that Bicester town centre needed somewhere new, and began planning Glitch.
“The feedback we got from our customers at Monty’s was that they wanted to go somewhere with cocktails, entertainment and music, so we began thinking about what that looked like,” he says.
‘people want an experience; somewhere to go and enjoy themselves without having to go to Flight Club in Oxford’
“There are lots of great pubs and restaurants in Bicester, but people want an experience; somewhere for groups to go and enjoy themselves without having to go to Flight Club in Oxford.
“They want to eat, drink and have fun – somewhere with a great atmosphere and ambience, and here we are,” Monty says. So now we just want people to come and enjoy themselves.”
‘we just want people to come and have fun at glitch’
So how are they feeling about finally opening? “We are nervous but really excited about opening Glitch because we have worked really hard to get here. We know Glitch is what people want, and now all we have to do is open our doors and show people.”
Having got the keys in January, Monty and Oana have been doing up the former KidzZoo Soft Play site since February: “We had to strip it back to a shell because it had been empty for a few years, so now it’s got quite an industrial vibe, with games across two floors, and a late night licence.”
‘people want to eat, drink and have fun – somewhere with great atmosphere and ambience, and here we are’
And while they want to get settled in first, the couple already have plans to introduce a hot food menu there soon, as well as an events programme of live music and DJs – just not burgers!
Monty and Oana both worked at Bicester Village before opening Monty’s, Oana in retail, Monty as GM at Farmshop and Mollie’s Diner, so there is a history of hospitality there, but they both admit that opening Monty’s in Bicester right after Covid was still a big gamble.
‘Everyone told us we were crazy to open monty’s just after lockdown, but we decided to go for it anyway, despite the difficult economic conditions’
“We opened Monty’s five years ago just after lockdown to offer something new in Bicester town centre – something affordable but good quality because there was so much fast food around. Everyone told us we were crazy, but we decided to go for it anyway, despite the difficult economic conditions, and it really took off.
“We didn’t have any big investors, so we sold our house to start the business and now it’s a success and we are turning over triple what we did when we first opened,” Monty explains. “So now that it’s stable we’re ready for the next project – Glitches.”
They plan to introduce hot food at glitch soon ,as well as live music and DJs
So did they look at other sites? We were offered sites in other towns to open more Monty’s, but we wanted to stay here and invest in Bicester,” Monty explains.
“And so far the feedback from has been great, so we are confident because Glitch offers something really different.”
‘People are already going to both sites. They have food in one and enjoy a new concept and cocktails in the other’
So does he think people will start at Glitch and then go to Monty’s? “It’s already happening! People are already going to both. They have food in one and enjoy a new concept and cocktails in the other, and visa versa.”
Glitch is at 15-16 Crown walk, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6HY https://www.glitchbicester.co.uk Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
