PoD/Redbox expansion plans announced

Talking exclusively to hotpress.com, John Reynolds says: "I've just bought additional vaults next to the actual PoD club, one of which is going to be turned into the Dublin branch of the Jazz Café. It was originally earmarked for premises we own in Fade Street, but that hasn't been possible for various reasons. We've now lodged a planning application with Dublin Corporation to move the project up to Harcourt Street. We'll be looking to have roughly 350 people seated and 150 standing.
"The development itself is ours, but the programming and everything else will be done in partnership with the Jazz Café in the UK, which is owned by Vince Power and the Mean Fiddler Group."
Despite the name, the Jazz Café is a multi-genre affair with The Skatellites, Kelly Joe Phelps, Courtney Pine and David Holmes & The Free Association all upcoming this month in London.
The larger 2,000-capacity venue will be located in what is now the Red Box and the neighbouring warehouse which Reynolds has just purchased.
"We're moving away from dance and into the area of live music," he reveals. "I've always felt that a 2,000-capacity city centre is badly needed. Once an act is too big for the Olympia or Vicar St., the only other option is The Point which holds 8,000 people. The plan for that is with Dublin City Council at the moment awaiting approval."
Reynolds is confident that both projects will be green-lighted.
"There's going to be a LUAS station directly out the front door and a brand new taxi rank, so we'll be able to get people in and out very quickly," he enthuses. "My brief to the architects is simple: 'Build me the best venue in Dublin.' There's one objector to what I'm doing, but if we can make them see that this will be good for the area, we could start building by the end of the summer and be open by the New Year."