Exciting news for Cheltenham residents & visitors – Parler opening this Monday

Cheltenham peeps you are in for a treat! A new café and bar, inspired by the Japanese listening bar trend, is opening this Monday on Clarence Street. Taking over the prime spot that formerly housed Pyesta. Read on to find out what you can expect from Cheltenham's newest venue…

A new & soulful groove

Born from a shared vision among friends, Parler is a collaborative project focused on the creation of an impeccably styled, sociable space for those who love good music, specialty coffee, quality cocktails, natural wines and fresh craft beer.

Opening to the public on Monday 28 July, Parler introduces a new and thoughtfully curated venue, to compliment Cheltenham’s exciting food and drinks scene. A fusion of vintage Parisian café culture, classic cocktail & wine bar ambience, with an urban tap-room edge, played out to the eclectic rhythms of analogue music. It is in part a retrospective continental European idea but with a modern British edge and nods to the Japanese listening bar movement.

High fidelity, sharp design

Design is high on the agenda in the creation of Parler. Authentic mid-century modernist décor sits seamlessly within the town’s grand Regency setting, street art murals mingle with tropical leafed plants while bespoke, vintage styled cabinetry houses a high-grade, specially sourced vinyl sound system.

A community concept

Parler brings together some of Cheltenham’s most loved independent food & drink brands. Organic pastries and small bites from La Boulangerie Artisan sit alongside a cult cocktail offering from Four Cats and a micro taproom by craft beer pioneers, Deya.

From further afield, an eco-minded wine offering has been selected from Hackney based importer - The Modest Merchant and single estate coffee is sourced from specialty roastery Elsewhere Coffee in Deptford.

With a focus on tapping into the talents of the town’s creative community, every detail has been considered by Parler’s founders. The cups and tableware have been thrown by Ceramicist Megan Burridge, the bespoke cabinetry has been crafted by a coalition of local creators and carpenters; Tobgam, Barebones and Sam and Rob from Property Creations. The sound system has been developed with the highly regarded input of analogue guru Colin Crawford and mural art & sign writing lovingly produced by regional street artist Phil Blake and Dawn Evans respectively.

Rhythmic & nostalgic and yet contemporary & progressive

Parler will offer a carefully curated selection of music across a variety of genres creating a diverse and eclectic listening experience. Jazz, funk, soul, folk, blues and world music mingle on the turntables and whilst playlists will also be streamed, DJ’s and selectors are often behind the decks, not to hype a crowd but to shape an atmosphere. The venue will host a roster of mini-residencies, the first of which featuring Bristol-based collective, More Soup DJs, playing deep cuts, forgotten soul, ambient jazz, and genre-bending blends you won’t find on streaming playlists. At its heart, the listening bar is about slowing down, tuning in, and creating a social ritual around music that’s tactile, human, and deeply curated. 

A little less action, a little more conversation

Behind the concept of Parler lies a fascinating history of the listening bar movement. The listening bar - also known as a vinyl lounge - has its roots in post-war Japan, where the concept first took shape in the 1950s. Known as “jazz kissa” (short for jazz kissaten, or coffee shop), these intimate, dimly lit spaces offered an escape from the bustle of the city, inviting guests to sit quietly, sip coffee or whiskey, and immerse themselves in high-fidelity sound. The owners were often passionate collectors, curating vast libraries of rare records and investing in serious audio equipment—turntables, tube amps, and floor-standing speakers that turned music listening into an almost sacred experience. It was about intentionality: music not as background noise, but as the main event.

Fast forward to today, and the spirit of the listening bar has been reimagined and exported across the globe—from Tokyo to Brooklyn, London to Berlin. The modern vinyl lounge blends analog audio culture with craft hospitality: cocktails mixed with precision, seasonal menus, and a warm, lived-in aesthetic that pays homage to mid-century design.

At its heart, the listening bar is about slowing down, tuning in, and creating a social ritual around music that’s tactile, human, and deeply curated. 

Parler will be bringing this soulful ethos to the streets of Cheltenham from this Monday, July 28, will you be one of the first to try it out?

Discover more new places to eat and drink in Cheltenham.