The powerhouse behind the Bavarian party palace, Albert’s Schloss, gives us an insight into what really makes world class entertainment.
An evening at Albert’s Schloss is described as a “jumping night out for all ages, size, and dress styles” on a TripAdvisor review, which achieved a five-star rating of course. So, we decided to sit down with the mind that has mastered the crowd of mainstream Manchester: Sophie Bee.
Bee works as a Creative Producer for the multi-concept operator Mission Mars, with her main project being the entertainment programming at Albert’s Schloss. Her aim is to deliver world class entertainment; the highest level of performance at a global level, that stands the test of time. She claims this to entail “making people want to stay, having a laugh interacting with guests and never being the same”.
“My dream is to create, but also to look after other artists whilst still maintaining the freedom to do my own thing as an artist myself,” she says, when I ask about the stepping stones which led her to Albert’s Schloss. “Never in a million years did we think that the entertainment at Schloss would be what it is today, the stage is tiny!” Now, three years down the line, it has become the highest footfall bar and restaurant in the country. Renowned critic Jay Rayner who visited in 2018 told The Observer “I should hate it, but I don’t”. Quite the reputation to live up to.
Being exposed to showbiz from a very young age – with her mother a Playboy bunny and her father a professional gambler who also run nightclubs and raves – it’s no coincidence that Bee has developed a keen eye within the entertainment industry. “Do your research, listen to the drum of the city and be part of it,” is what she passionately believes is the key to successful entertainment. “My life and my job are one thing, if there’s a new show in the city you’ve got to go to it. You’ve got to do that to be in it, to live it and to breathe it.”
As we sit amid the hushed afternoon ambience of Albert’s Schloss, I can’t help but notice the number of names and talent that she reels off during our chat. She tells me that she cannot get any more friends on Facebook as she has reached the limit of 5,000 and now has to direct people to her Instagram account. Bee continues her lore: “Go out and meet the people, build a family, build a team and curate together. There has to be a hierarchy within that of course, but during a show the cleaner is just as important as the main act.” I ask her what she is most proud of, she replied with, “My Manchester family, the people that regard me as family and I regard them. They know who they are 100%.”
“I really understand the crowd here at Schloss,” she laughs, “even though it is the complete opposite of who I am, I’d much prefer to be in a dark, dingy rave hole in Salford.” Bee then enlightens me that she is famous for doing knee drops, so it’s only fitting that her chosen song to come into the wrestling ring to would be ‘Welcome to The Jungle’ by Guns N’ Roses. “Shun n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n knees, knees”
You could say that Sophie Bee certainly flies with a distinctive buzz. She collects talent from all over the city and produces them onto the platforms that they truly deserve. She quotes Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.”