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December's North East spotlight series: Antony Michaelides

With Christmas fast approaching and the region’s business people looking forward to a well deserved rest, we’re bringing you a December interview series with a holiday twist.

Here at Bdaily we love to bring our readers closer to the stories we write. So this month, we’re asking the questions we don’t usually get a chance to ask - giving you the chance to learn more about the business people you so often read about.

Next up is Antony Michaelides, MD of Newcastle’s Assembly Rooms and Bonbar.

Enjoy!

Your Business

What were the highlights for your business in 2015?

After its launch in 2014, it was great to see Bonbar flourish in its second year of business this year. A particular highlight for myself and the team was seeing our head mixologist Johny Hume win the award for North East Mixologist of the Year at the Benevolent Awards which we hosted at The Assembly Rooms. To be recognised for our quality cocktail offering with such tough competition in the region was fantastic.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently this year?

We have worked very hard to establish Bonbar as a premier late night venue this year and were thrilled with the accolade of being nominated in the Best Late Night Venue category at the Benevolent Awards, a sign that our hard work has been recognised. We were also nominated in the awards’ Best Food Bar category and although this was a great achievement, it would have been even better to have taken home this title. Going forward, I’d like to see Bonbar become more established for its quality food offering and we’ll work even harder to raise its profile with the North East foodie scene.

Is there anything we should watch out for your company doing next year?

Over the last two years we’ve focused heavily on the launch of Bonbar, so next year we plan to shift our focus slightly to further reinforce The Assembly Rooms’ position as a major player in the region’s hospitality industry. We’ve had some talented new faces join our sales and marketing team in 2015 and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the New Year.

Your favourites

Have any other North East companies impressed you this year, if so - why?

I was really pleased for Kenny Atkinson and inspired by his achievement of winning a Michelin Star for House of Tides. Food is a real passion of mine and I know how hard it is to be honoured with this accolade. Kenny’s hard work, expertise and dedication are definitely impressive.

When business life gets on top of you, what do you do to destress?

During the summer months I’m part of a clay pigeon shooting club in Northumberland. We’re a small group and try to meet at least once a month to unwind and talk about everything and nothing. Taking some time for myself and getting out in the great outdoors to spend the day with likeminded people to practice a fond hobby of mine is really enjoyable.

Have any social media accounts caught your eye this year, any favourite pages or people to follow?

I’m a big follower of business and general goings-on in the region so the likes of @BdailyNorthEast, @EveningChron and @whatsonne keep me up to date with the latest news and events. The impressive growth that digital platforms have experienced this year is fantastic and a real testament to North East journalism.

The what ifs

If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

I’d be a writer, painter or carpenter and wouldn’t work on projects for anyone but myself!

If you could go back in time, which piece of advice would you give your younger self?

To buy shares in the popular ‘fruit supplier’ Apple – who knew the astronomic heights that this brand would grow to.

What would be the perfect Christmas gift for you?

A little far from the norm perhaps, but my sister has just treated me to a leg of Spanish iberico ham for my birthday and a bottle of 2004 Tignanello Tuscan wine would go perfectly with it.

Thanks Michael, happy holidays from the Bdaily team.

To feature in our North East December spotlight series, contact Jamie at jamie.hardesty@bdaily.co.uk.

More interviewees featured in this series:

Dianne Sharp, CEO of DKS Straightforward

Esme Flounders, marketing and communications director at Narrative Integrated Communications

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