THE VILLAGE BELLE HOTEL

Location: St Kilda, Victoria
Installed: 2018
System: Custom QUATTRO Modular Stage – Curved Configuration

The Problem

The iconic Village Belle Hotel in St Kilda, Melbourne, required a compact performance stage for live acoustic music and small musical performances within its sports bar.

Situated within a heritage-listed building, the hotel presented some unique challenges. The proposed stage location was a curved corner of the bar, meaning a conventional rectangular stage would not fit neatly into the available space.

The hotel also needed a stage that could be easily removed and stored when not required, allowing the bar to maximise its available floor space for patrons and other activities.

The Constraints

The project presented several important design considerations:

• Curved Stage Design: The stage needed to be custom-shaped to follow the curved corner of the heritage building, making efficient use of the available space.

• Limited Storage Access: The hotel's stage storage area was located in an underground cellar, accessible only through a small floor hatch.

• Lightweight Components: Individual stage pieces needed to be sufficiently lightweight for staff to lift and manoeuvre through the cellar access hatch.

• Compact Storage: The entire stage system needed to pack down into manageable components suitable for the restricted cellar storage area.

• Easy Assembly: The stage needed to be straightforward for hotel staff to assemble and dismantle as required.

• Professional Presentation: Despite its compact size, the stage needed to provide an attractive, professional platform for live musicians.

Why Select Concepts Was Chosen

Select Staging Concepts' QUATTRO Modular Stage System provided the flexibility to develop a customised solution that addressed both the architectural constraints of the heritage building and the practical challenges of underground storage.

Unlike conventional portable stages, the QUATTRO system could be manufactured with specially shaped decks to suit the curved corner, while retaining the benefits of lightweight, modular construction.

This ability to customise both the stage shape and individual component sizes was particularly important given the limited access to the hotel's cellar.

The Solution

Select Staging Concepts designed and manufactured a customised QUATTRO Modular Stage system featuring:

• 2m x 2m stage configuration, providing a compact performance area for solo musicians and small musical acts

• Custom curved rear edge, shaped to fit neatly into the curved corner of the heritage-listed sports bar

• Specially sized modular stage decks, designed to fit through the small cellar access hatch

• Lightweight, manageable components for easier manual handling and transportation between the bar and underground storage

• Quick assembly and dismantling, allowing the stage to be installed for performances and removed when additional floor space was required

• Carpeted stage decks with a black pleated valance, providing a neat, professional appearance

A particularly important aspect of the project was designing the individual stage components around the hotel's storage limitations. Rather than simply creating a stage to fit the performance area, Select Concepts needed to ensure that every component could also pass through the restricted cellar hatch and be safely handled by staff.

The customised curved design allowed the stage to sit neatly within the existing architectural features, making effective use of an otherwise awkward corner without requiring alterations to the heritage building.

The Result

The completed installation provided the Village Belle Hotel with a practical, attractive and purpose-built performance stage that complemented the character of its historic sports bar.

The custom 2m x 2m curved QUATTRO stage created a dedicated space for acoustic musicians and small live performances, while its modular construction allowed the hotel to remove and store the stage when not required.

Importantly, the lightweight, specially sized components could be transported through the small cellar access hatch, overcoming one of the project's most significant challenges.

This project demonstrates the versatility of the QUATTRO Modular Stage System, showing how customised staging can be designed to accommodate unusual architectural features, restricted access and limited storage space — particularly in heritage buildings, hotels, restaurants and other hospitality venues.

Planning a Custom Stage for Your Venue?

Select Staging Concepts specialises in designing and manufacturing customised modular staging solutions for hotels, bars, restaurants, heritage buildings and live entertainment venues.

Whether you're working with curved walls, awkward spaces, restricted access or limited storage, our QUATTRO Modular Stage System can be tailored to suit your venue's unique requirements.

Contact our team to discuss a custom staging solution for your venue.