A brand new studio, event space and bar is set to open in Newcastle this month so Lee Allcock caught up with Sam Roberts, Managing Director of Tapyard Studios, to find out more.
Tell me a bit about yourself, your background, and why you set up Tapyard Studios…
I’ve always been passionate about music; I played in rock bands touring up and down the country while studying at Leeds College of Music. I went onto work as a sound engineer, recording bands both in the studio and at live shows. Alongside that, I gained extensive bar experience, starting as a bartender and eventually becoming a general manager, overseeing multiple locations.
Tell me a bit about the studios and what you will offer. Sounds like you’re way more than just a simple rehearsal studio…
Tapyard Studios embodies the culmination of my deepest passion: music and hospitality. We’re not just your typical bar – our rehearsal studios are at the heart of the operation. They will remain open throughout the day with bands coming and going as they please. There’s on-site parking and they can take advantage of our huge venue area too. During the day, it’s a chill cafe where you can enjoy great coffee, work, or hang out, with some low-level background tunes. As the evening rolls in, we’ll push a slightly livelier atmosphere. We’ll also be hosting shows on evenings and weekends.
How will you be collaborating with local businesses?
We’ve teamed up with local breweries such as Black Storm Beer and Full Circle Brew Co. We’ll be keeping it fresh on the taps and rotating the line-up with only the best beers in the North East from a bunch of other cool breweries. We’ll also be serving up some of the best coffee around as we’re proud to be supplied by Tyne Mouth Coffee Company. We’re also in talks with some amazing food vendors and will have them host pop-ups at the venue. Plus, we’re in talks with some of Newcastle’s best promotions companies to fill our gig diary with incredible events. It’s all part of our plan to bring you unforgettable music experiences. Finally, we’re hoping to team up with Newcastle University, with the goal of giving their students access to our awesome music facilities.
What are your aims and ambitions?
I also run a company called We Are Heard which is driven by my family’s background in education and the need for more arts funding in schools. My goal is to provide music experiences to students without straining school budgets. We partner with schools to produce albums, giving them a way to raise funds while enhancing students’ music education. Since our April 2022 launch, we’ve raised over £25,000 in school funding and are steadily expanding. We’ve started reaching out to schools in the North East, securing bookings, and even completed a recording project with Newcastle Prep School. I aim to grow We Are Heard, connecting with more schools and leaving a lasting mark on students through music. At Tapyard Studios, our vision is crystal clear: we want to create a magnetic hotspot in Newcastle for those who appreciate the perfect blend of beer, coffee, and music. Our ambition extends beyond being a run-of-the-mill music venue; we’re on a mission to craft a social and cultural epicentre where people gather to relish top-tier beers and revel in live music. This endeavour is so close to our hearts that we recently uprooted ourselves from our lifelong home in Leeds and relocated to the vibrant city of Newcastle. We wholeheartedly believe that Newcastle is the perfect canvas for our venture, with its thriving music scene and cultural dynamism. We aim to etch Tapyard Studios into the city’s identity as not just a venue, but a vital contributor to the live music culture. Our ultimate goal is to become an indispensable part of the Newcastle experience.
For further information about Tapyard Studios, head to instagram.com/tapyardstudios.
