New Evolution Vaping bar to open in former Sutton Coldfield tattoo parlour – Birmingham Live

A new bar with a difference is about to open in Sutton Coldfield at the site of a former tattoo parlour.

Evolution Vaping in Mere Green has moved from its previous site in Cremorne Road to set up in the former Wolf Pack Tattoo and Piercing premises in Mere Green Road in the heart of the suburb in Carlton House.

The venue is owned by mother-and-son duo Sharon and James Burr who both hail from Sutton. The latest shop and bar is just 500 yards from James home in Belwell Lane.

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The pair have five shops, in Erdington, Kingstanding, Minworth, Mere Green and the one in Reddicap, also including a bar.

That concept has proved successful, hence the change of premises and current licencing application for permission to sell booze as well as vaping paraphernalia.

Evolution Vaping hopes to open its second bar with two booths and traditional bar stools, at the counter for a small but intimate drinking paradise for vapers. And the venue plans to go further with two tellies installed and the promise of sports on offer. There will also be table football.

James Burr is 39, approaching his 40 th birthday, and is brimming with enthusiasm about his latest venture, which is open as a vape shop, while it awaits the go-ahead to sell drinks.

He said: All its waiting for is licensing to go through and fingers crossed we will have the bar open in mid-March. We have everything ready to go.

We have a couple of booths where people can sit. Its part bar and part shop, with a couple of widescreen TVs.

The bar is at the back of the premises and the shop at the front, with one long counter stretching across both elements.

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The bar concept has worked in Reddicap the shop opposite the old Reddicap Tavern, in Hollyfield Road South, now a Pesto Italian restaurant. Its been going three years first as a shop and for the last two years with a bar too.

There is a market for vape bars as traditional pubs treat vapers like smokers and either ban them from the premises or insist upon them vaping outside with their smoking counterparts, not always to their liking.

James said: With smoking banned in pubs, some allow you to vape inside but a lot of them arent.

People are missing having a nicotine while having a drink. Here you can vape without having to stand outside in the cold.

Its somewhere people who vape can be comfortable, where they can buy everything they need, get advice, relax and talk to people into the same sort of thing.

Mere Green is the perfect location for the next bar shop concept as at night it is buzzing he said. It is close to the Mulberry Walk development, close to the Old School House pub, the Mare Pool and Renato Lounge. And around the corner from another mini-bar concept pub Ale Hub.

And James said it was a modern take on a traditional shop type that has been dying out.

He said: Look at us as a modern-day tobacconist. Years ago youd get your custom blend of tobacco and hand engraved pipe.

Its like taking a step back in to that really but with vaping, which has got quite a following.

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Behind the counter at his shops are a myriad of flavours. James said there are thousands.

James explained that vaping varieties are made from flavour concentrates like the ones people use for baking, that has moved across into vaping. His business has a wholesale side with a warehouse in Minworth supplying e-liquids to stores.

As well as his flavours, people also make their own combinations and also make their own coils used in vaping devices.

He was keen to point out the vape bar is not a shisha lounge as is set out on the licensing application.

He said: A shisha lounge you burn blocks of compressed, flavoured tobacco. Vaping has the nicotine and flavours but without the tar and other chemicals in cigarettes.

Evolution Vaping began in 2014, with the shops and 6,000 square foot warehouse in Minworth. It employs 50 people with a couple more taken on at Mere Green and jobs being advertised, with a need for specialist vape knowledge or a keen willingness to learn.

James, who is a former John Willmott School pupil and whose mum lives on the Berryfields Estate, said: Im really excited for it. Its 500 yards from my house. A nice little bar I can go down to with my wife.

Because it is on my doorstep, I really want it to do well. Its in a good spot. I think its got good potential. I am looking for other sites as well!

The licensing application is for alcohol to be sold from midday to 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and from midday to 10pm on Sundays. And for the premises to be open from 8am to midnight Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays.

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New Evolution Vaping bar to open in former Sutton Coldfield tattoo parlour - Birmingham Live