On the occasion of the nightclub’s third anniversary in Dubai, Cirque le Soir’s global founder Ryan Bish lets us in on how it all began
How has the Dubai Cirque le Soir evolved since it opened its doors?
Cirque le Soir Dubai was always going to be slightly different to its sister club in London, because of the local restrictions. We’ve had to tone down the entertainment side of it but we’ve compensated in other areas.
What are your thoughts on Dubai’s nightlife scene in general? Would you like to see anything change?
Dubai’s nightlife seems very saturated at the moment. There are a lot of international brands wanting to come over, thinking that if they put out their logo and just open their doors they’re going to be a big hit overnight. Which, as we can see from lots of clubs opening and closing, is not the case. I think they need to choose their local partners wisely, luckily I chose very strong partners.
How did you come up with the original concept for the club?
I came up with it whilst running another club at the time, which involved heavily tattooed models, doing various kinds of shows. I saw the reaction the clientele had, so I wanted to do a variation on that. That’s where I came up with the circus element. And my mother used to be a bearded lady in the circus… not really!
Is there anything you would lik to see in the Dubai club that just wouldn’t be possible at the moment?
Yes, there is. But I can’t go into detail, can I?
What is the one thing people always tell you when they find out you’re the Cirque le Soir founder?
They are always very surprised when they meet me; they usually think I would be older. They generally get me confused for a waiter, manager or something, which I take as a compliment.
Who would you most like to bump into in your clubs?
Obama, I’d like to take a selfie with him.
Do you plan on expanding the brand?
Yes, big plans for 2015. We have two more venues in the pipeline already. We have three continents covered already, so I’m aiming for another continent for next year.
Is there anything you would like to alter about the CLS experience?
I would like it to be an ever-evolving, ever changing experience, that stimulates all the senses.
By David Light
