Joy Greens Resort in Nyeri is a restaurant that has become famous for its use of outdoor spaces for entertainment and refreshments. [Lydiah Nyawira, Standard]
Granted, the city of Nyeri wasn’t known as a vibrant entertainment scene before the pandemic, with quite a few bars and lounges offering late-night entertainment.
There was little to look forward to on the weekends. But with the outbreak leading to the closure of bars and hotels, customers and hoteliers retreated to their homes and had to adapt to the new lifestyle.
During this lull in the strip, Waruru Ndegwa came up with a new entertainment concept, combining elements from outdoor spaces and temporary structures.
Joy Greens Entertainment Park is located on a 2-acre plot that hosts open fire pits with seating areas, as well as a family game park, a Nyama Choma restaurant, a car wash and two fabricated shipping containers that have been converted into bar sections, and an open air theatre, for live performances.
It may seem like a mixture of everything, but Ndegwa has seen his concept gaining traction, hosting top Kenyan artists for live performances every weekend since Covid-19 protocols were relaxed.
“I can say that Covid-19 inspired me, because I had to think outside the box to attract customers. Many people prefer to stand and relax (as people buy alcoholic drinks and stay in their cars), he noted.
Ndigwa said the fear of contracting Covid-19 from crowded bars has made many people turn away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h77O9hFtro
Also with many families being forced to stay at home for several months, many people wanted to experience the outdoors where they could enjoy their meals and the children’s play.
One of the challenges with Neri Hotels and Clubs was that they were not family friendly.
Recreational joints need more space. This made Ndigwa think. Companies have been struggling with the effects of the pandemic. Therefore, building a new structure was out of the question due to the financial flows at that time.
“If you look at China, they built fully functional hospitals in one month using prefab containers, and it’s cheaper than erecting a building and with proper interior design, you can provide a comfortable space for customers,” Ndegwa explained.
Choose to lease the land from the owner to avoid the purchase cost. They offer a good amount of space, and being located in a vibrant middle-class residential area made them easily accessible.
“We wanted to be close to the Nyeri-Nairobi highway and have enough space to reduce the risk of overcrowding, a problem that troubles many revelers today,” he said.
His love for live concerts was the reason why he set up a stage for live bands with musical equipment. “I love live concerts and knew that with this, I would offer a different experience to my clients because most of the clubs are solely based on Deejays,” he said.
Across town, on Kingongo property, Julie Githinji has transformed the backyard of her parents’ compound into a garden restaurant with a rustic and family vibe.
It took two years to create The Backyard Lounge, changing what was once a pig and hay barn into well-manicured lawns, colorful flower beds with potted plants and exposed fire pits for seating and a lounge.
Near Joy Greens is Stutt Garden, where Paul Kibuchi, better known as PJ, has turned his yard into a tenement house restaurant. PJ also started the restaurant after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other hotels that offer garden-style settings are FK and Bantu Resorts on the outskirts of Nyeri.
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