Numerous photographers and a red carpet are the only signs of celebration outside The Moon and Sixpence (MASP). Guests walk in like any other Saturday, pausing only to pick up their passes. Inside, however, is a different story, as the first anniversary party of the city’s only Irish pub is on in full swing.
A fair bit of the crowd jumps along to the music and the rest keep the bartenders busy. Every table has a sugary pink concoction made of five types of liquors; it’s a special (and potent) cocktail made especially for the event. The non-drinkers nurse their mock champagne, another new addition to the menu, and nod along to the band. Usually there’s no charge for entry, but with a cover charge of Rs. 1,200 for the night, it's less crowded than usual. Not a bad thing; there’s enough space to move around comfortably and there are still people who are looking around for a free bar stool they can sink onto. A pool game proceeds in the alcove, the players oblivious to everything else.
Frontman of French band Success, Mister Eleganz, is belting out one of their trademark ‘ElectRaw Power’ numbers while dressed dapperly in a grey suit, orange tie and olive green pants. They’re in Chennai as part of their Asia tour with original music that is both intriguing and fun. It’s hard not to move along to the beat — it’s loud, powerful and most importantly, catchy.
Rajesh Devarajan, managing director of Hablis, says that the idea with which the pub was started was quite different from the clientele they cater to now. “An Irish watering hole is not just a place to have alcohol — it’s a place to meet people and have conversations and basically enjoy each other’s company. We wanted it to be family-friendly and welcoming to business people as well. A lot of our guests are youngsters and from the IT sector,” he says.
Over the past year, MASP has hosted several bands and music events, most recently partnering with IndiEarth to bring in live music every Friday night. They have also begun screening independent films on Wednesday nights. D. Naveen Kumar, bar manager, says, “We’ve never advertised extensively, it’s always been word of mouth, be it about our unique brews, our food or events. We like it that we are a space that promotes art, and we have plans to extend this connection over the coming year.”
