Intertain signs licence agreement with Chicago Rib Shack: Walkabout operator Intertain has entered into a licence agreement with authentic American barbecue restaurant Chicago Rib Shack to open a restaurant at its Camden Lock venue. The venue itself will also undergo a £300,000 refurbishment and use the location’s original name, the “T. E. Dingwall Building”. The project will see the venue build on its historic roots as a live music venue for big name and emerging talent, as well as continuing to host the London arm of the company’s new comedy offering, The Comedy Loft. The menu features responsibly sourced baby back ribs (the “crème de la crème” of barbecue ribs) smoked in-house over applewood chips in specially imported barbecue ovens, as well as top-quality burgers and Cajun chicken. Guests to the venue’s terrace bar will also be able to sample bar snacks from the Chicago Rib Shack menu. The venue will reopen in full on Wednesday 22 June. John Leslie, chief executive of Intertain, said: “This venue has an incredible reputation for live music, so it makes perfect sense for us to build on that heritage. At the same time, teaming up with the Chicago Rib Shack for the restaurant operation, whose roots lay in a city that has an equally famous reputation for live music, will allow us to satisfy increasing consumer demand for Americana, from live jazz and blues through to authentic US barbecue and craft brews.” Christian Arden, managing director, Chicago Rib Shack, added: “We have great plans for expansion in the coming year and are delighted that this exciting new partnership with Intertain marks the start of this journey.” News of the partnership com a week after Intertain unveiled a new concept, Felson’s Sports Lounge and Stick Hall, in Bournemouth. The £250,000 warehouse-style venue takes its inspiration from 1950s American eight-ball legend Fast Eddie Felson and the members clubs he used to play in. Leslie said: “Felson’s is an entirely new concept for us and taps into the trend for secret speakeasy bars and word-of-mouth hangouts. Felson’s is as much a pool bar as it is a place for a post-work cocktail and we have taken great care to make sure it appeals as much to women as it does to men across our website, marketing materials, decor and menus.”