First Ministry of Sound outside London to soon open in Asia

Ministry of Sound to open in Bangkok, Thailand, 20 December 2001

The Ministry of Sound Bangkok will open 20 December 2001, bringing a global standard of dance music to the Capital. Located on Sukhumvit Soi 12, it is the first Ministry nightclub to open anywhere in the world since the original club opened in 1991 in London.

With an initial investment of 150 million Baht, the 3,000 square meter club will be spread over 3 floors, employing some 100 people. Open 7 days a week, the Ministry of Sound Bangkok expects to see 50,000 clubbers on the dance floor every month.

With a capacity to entertain up to 2,600 customers, the first floor (800 guests) will focus on the latest house and garage music, while the second floor (1,400 guests) will offer trance and other progressive styles of music. The Gallery on the top floor (400 guests) is especially reserved for Ministry Members and special guests.

Music quality will be second to none, with a sound system that is easily the largest in the Capital. As expected from a brand recognized as a pioneer in dance music, The Ministry of Sound Bangkok will regularly bring in international DJs to play alongside the roster of local DJs the club will use.

Access to the club by foot is via Sukhumvit Soi 12, but those coming by car will find 600 car spaces allocated to the Ministry in Time Square, accessed between Sukhumvit Soi 12 and 14. To keep traffic flow to a minimum in Soi 12, all cars are encouraged to park in Times Square and use a specially built walkway connecting Times Square to the Club.

In addition to the 3-story club, Ministry of Sound Bangkok will offer customers merchandise such as t-shirts, CD compilations, a web site, and regular local and regional DJ tours. The club is also available for special events and parties, both day and night.

Convent Entertainment Corporation Limited, a locally based operator has joined forces with the United Kingdom’s largest nightclub operator, Luminar Plc to manage this exciting project.
 

MINISTRY OF SOUND LONDON

Ministry of Sound – the club – opened in London in September 1991 and has since established a cult following among clubbers worldwide. The clubs phenomenal success has been built on the very high quality of its music programming and promotion, its world-renowned custom-built sound system and the distinctive Ministry of Sound logo.

Ministry of Sound London employs over 200 full time staff over a range of synergistic businesses including recording, clothing, touring and media, ensuring the brands representation on news-stands, radio stations and in record and clothing stores around the world.

The London club attracts 5000 people through the door every weekend. The reason for clubs popularity is the triple combination of the phenomenal sound system, stylish venue and of course the world’s most legendary DJ’s. The club is made up of three dance floors and three bars.

Other Ministry of Sound businesses include:

- Compilation CDs; the largest independent dance music label in the UK, with a string of number one hits, including the Annual, Clubbers Guide, and Trance Nation series.

- Record Labels; running four subsidiary labels: Rulin, Substance, Data and Sport

- Merchandise; including T-shirts, headphones, record bags, record boxes and slip mats

- Tours; global DJ tours since 1993, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong in recent years

- Events; including the recent Knebworth festival with over 150 DJs and acts

- Radio; digitally simulcast over the internet, and now free-to-air in the UK on 87.7 FM

- Internet; www.ministryofsound.com, receiving 500,000+ unique visitors every month

- Magazine; MINISTRY, with a circulation of more than 95,000 readers globally



Since clubbing has developed from an underground movement to a mainstream activity, influencing the music preferences, style and attitude of young people, Ministry of Sound has emerged as the unifier of this culture and is now rec ognized as a global youth brand and icon.

CONVENT ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION LIMITED

Convent Entertainment Corporation Limited, originally known as Delaney’s (Thailand) Limited, was founded in 1995 by a group of locally based Expatriate and Thai business associates. Initially setup as a franchise operation with Delaney’s International Inc, the local group bought out it’s Hong Kong based shareholders in July 2000 and re-branded the Pubs to “Shenanigans”, renaming the Company to Convent Entertainment Corporation Limited, reflecting the original roots of the business in Convent Road in Bangkok.

In September 2000 Convent Entertainment Corporation Limited introduced their new partner Luminar (Asia) Limited, a 100% subsidiary of Luminar Plc of the United Kingdom. Luminar Plc is the UK’s largest operator of themed bars, nightclubs and restaurants, currently trading through 260 outlets.

Convent Entertainment Corporation Limited secured the rights to the Ministry of Sound for Thailand in August 2001, and has formed a new wholly owned subsidiary named Convent Danceclubs Limited to undertake the new Ministry of Sound project.

Convent Entertainment Corporation Limited currently operates two Irish Pubs (Shenanigans in Bangkok and Pattaya), Prik Kee Noo Restaurant, and provides catering services for Harrow International School Bangkok.

LUMINAR Plc.

Luminar Plc is an owner, developer and operator of themed bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Currently trading in 260 premises in the United Kingdom, their portfolio includes nightclub brands such as the famous Hippodrome and Camden Palace in London. The Company also owns recognized brands such as Chicago Rock Café, Jumping Jacks, Liquid Nightclub, and Life Bar Café throughout the UK.

Luminar has grown to become the largest operator of licensed late night venues in the United Kingdom, employing over 10,000 people. The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in May 1996 and has expanded its presence around the country and into Scotland.

In September 2000 Luminar (Asia) Limited was established, joining with Bangkok-based Convent Entertainment Corporation Limited to form Convent Danceclubs Limited, the Company which will undertake the new Ministry of Sound project in Bangkok.