Developers keen on Maxims nightclub, on sale after being shut for five years

A TOWN centre nightclub which has been shut for more than five years has been put up for sale.

Offers are being invited for the three-storey former Maxims venue, in Lower Street, Newcastle.

The building was one of seven sites identified by Newcastle Borough Council four years ago as part of a 10-year project to transform the town centre and create 3,000 jobs.

Of those seven sites, only the nearby Georgia Pacific factory, which is in Lower Street, has been transformed into a hotel and supermarket.

And a �12 million fitness centre is also being built on the old Subaru Garage, in Brunswick Street.

But Maxims, along with the old Blackfriars Bakery site, the First bus depot, the former Zanzibar nightspot and Titley fruit warehouse all remain unoccupied.

Festival Park-based Mounsey Chartered Surveyors, which is advertising Maxims, says it has been "pleasantly surprised" by the early interest from developers.

Director Richard Mounsey said: "We've had a full range of tentative inquiries from residential-based developers about possible retail and mixed-use projects.

"At the moment we are going through a review process of the building which will take around six weeks. This will determine what we can and cannot do with the site in terms of planning permission."

Once the review has been finished, the building will be marketed with an asking price and recommended list of usages put forward.

Mr Mounsey added: "The building is in a prominent location in the town centre and has good access.

"It's in a relatively good condition and we would be looking at keeping the building intact as part of any development."

The building, which dates back to the 17th century, opened as a nightclub in the late 1960s and was renowned for playing Northern Soul music.

It was almost burnt down in January 2007 when arsonists set fire to rubbish outside the club.

Neale Clifton is executive director for regeneration and development at the borough council.

He said: "We have not received any recent planning applications relating to the former Maxims nightclub.

"We would, though, welcome discussions with the site owner with a view to bringing the building back into use.

"It is a Grade-II listed building and we are keen to see it refurbished sympathetically and given a new purpose."

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