This former car showroom has undergone several name changes and ownership shifts, including, Tzar Bar, Green Mango, light Bar and Retro, and but one theme has remained fairly constant: food, drink, and entertainment.

Opened we believe in June 1986 as Jonesy's Wine Bar by Karen and Trevor Jones. It specialised in Italian food and Mexican food, had an extensive wine list but also sold lagers and John Bull bitter, hence its inclusion here.

Entertainment ranged from local rock bands to quiz nights. We can trace the business up to 1994.

Pictured left, catering manager, Jeremy Keemar.

An early review describes the atmosphere as reminiscent of a continental town-square cafe. The bar and facilities had been build to resemble a facade of houses with wooden doors, stone lintels and pantile roofs, with red brick pillars and flagstone floors.

A raised planter stood in the centre with potted plants around the walls. hidden lighting behind scalloped pelmets added to the outdoor effect.

Jeremy, who trained at the London Hilton, was behind the cooking.

The Tzar Bar: We know little about this bar other than it was Soviet themed and the owner was Peter Mott.
We do know they applied to extend into the empty shop next door to expand the restaurant in 1996.

From Peter Mott, the owner from a post on the Worthing Journal FB page:

"We purchased Joneses Wine bar December 94, then turned it into The Tzar Bar, specialising in flavoured Vodka Shots, (eg, pear drop , cough candy , mint Aero , chocolate , orange Trebor mint), to name just a few. Fantastic days"

The Green Mango, an unlikely name but one easily remembered. A refurbishment of the old Tzar Bar now larger and decorated with abstract paintings.

During the day is was a cafe/restaurant but in later afternoon or evening it became more drinks orientated and hosted comedy acts as well as DJ nights.

Being below a popular night club, it was often a meeting place for party goers.

The Light bar. This is another we know very little about.

We do know it held a ladies night fashion show sponsored by Ann Summers. Apparently other  fashion shows weren't unusual here.

The Retro Bar. Embarrassingly another we have little or no knowledge of. Last heard of in 2016.

Time Line

A little bit more

1986 - 1994 Karen and Trevor Jones
1994 - Peter Mott (Tzar Bar)

1994: Jonesy's had to shut for a short while when a leak of photographic chemicals  from an upstairs business seeped into the bars cellars.