davieG Posted 5 November 2009 Posted 5 November 2009 From the Merc Developers are planning to demolish a well-known music venue to build student flats. The Charlotte, which has played host to bands including Oasis, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Leicester's Kasabian, will be turned into 11 student flats if developer Deckchair Ltd gets planning permission. Under the proposals, the bar area would be retained. But the rest of the building – including the stage and dance area – would become flats featuring 23 bedrooms and a courtyard. The Oxford Street venue, on the edge of the city centre, only reopened last month after closing earlier this year due to a cash crisis. It is currently being leased on a temporary contract by a group of managers headed by Tim Sturgess. He told the Leicester Mercury: "We did take it on on a six-month basis but we were looking to hopefully get a long-term deal. "It would be sad for everyone, including ourselves, if it is turned into flats. "We would like to keep it open but we've worked very closely with the current owners and it does need a lot of inward investment, which isn't viable." The Mercury contacted a spokesman for the new owners when they took over from Punch Taverns in September. They refused to reveal their identity or comment on plans for the building. An application has now been submitted to Leicester City Council, although planning officials said they had not got enough information to advertise the notice yet. Once the application is publicised, people will have three weeks to make objections. Deckchair Ltd's agent, Landmark Planning Ltd, said the back part of the building would be demolished and an additional floor added if the proposals went ahead. Following the Charlotte's closure in January, thousands of music fans signed petitions and joined online campaigns to keep it going. Support for the venue grew again when it reopened and it now has almost 2,700 members signed up to its Facebook group. Band members and campaigners said they hoped to see the venue stay open. Seb Twigden, lead singer with Autohype, who played at the relaunch night in October, said: "I think it would be a real shame because obviously the Charlotte is such a prestigious venue in Leicester. "We played on the opening night and it was really good – we were hoping to do more nights like that." Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said: "It would be very sad because it's certainly an iconic music venue and therefore culturally important to the city. "There are so many student flats around. We're going to be completely swamped by flats soon." A spokesman for the city council said any objections would be referred to the planning committee. She said: "Because of the timescales involved this is likely to be in the new year, if necessary."
Hugo Sanchez Posted 5 November 2009 Posted 5 November 2009 Like how they put Oasis first on that list.
The Doctor Posted 19 November 2009 Posted 19 November 2009 well there are other music venues in town (e.g. the shed) but still disappointed to see it go, this is one of the main landmarks i use to find my way around.
Ultra Posted 30 November 2009 Posted 30 November 2009 The planning application has now been withdrawn.
Lillehamring Posted 30 November 2009 Posted 30 November 2009 The planning application has now been withdrawn. are you referring to the original plan or the new one to just convert the top floors? http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onl...?AppNo=20091553
lou Posted 30 November 2009 Posted 30 November 2009 are you referring to the original plan or the new one to just convert the top floors?http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onl...?AppNo=20091553 Sooo, does that mean the Charlotte could stay with flats on top of it? Or are they gonna change it into a Spar?
RedHux Posted 30 November 2009 Posted 30 November 2009 I'm lead to believe that this is what's happening: Amended planning notice... Upstairs Self contained flats (15 bedspaces in total).. .Reduction of size downstairs from 550sq ft to 225sq ft for a self contained commercial unit, the remainder will remain as a public house but no room for live music.
lou Posted 30 November 2009 Posted 30 November 2009 I'm lead to believe that this is what's happening:Amended planning notice... Upstairs Self contained flats (15 bedspaces in total).. .Reduction of size downstairs from 550sq ft to 225sq ft for a self contained commercial unit, the remainder will remain as a public house but no room for live music. may as well shut it down then <_<
Lillehamring Posted 30 November 2009 Posted 30 November 2009 I'm lead to believe that this is what's happening:Amended planning notice... Upstairs Self contained flats (15 bedspaces in total).. .Reduction of size downstairs from 550sq ft to 225sq ft for a self contained commercial unit, the remainder will remain as a public house but no room for live music. at it's best it was a pub AND a venue - it shot itself in the foot trying to be just a venue, and as just a pub, well it'll be nothing special, won't have the charm of the three good pubs hard-by...
davieG Posted 14 December 2009 Author Posted 14 December 2009 From the Merc Managers running a legendary music venue are to organise a week of gigs in the run-up to its closure. The Charlotte, in Oxford Street, Leicester, will close its doors on February 6, just four months after reopening following former boss Andy Wright's departure in January. In its heyday, the venue attracted the likes of Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Muse and Radiohead, and also provided a platform for Leicester band Saracuse – now known as Kasabian. But new owner Deckchair Ltd, which took over from pub company Punch Taverns in the autumn, has submitted a planning application to turn the building into flats. The firm gave a short-term lease to a managing group headed by Tim Sturgess. They have been putting on live music at the venue following its relaunch in October. But the deal is now coming to the end. Tim said: "We always knew it was a short-term deal with the owners so we knew it would come to an end, but we're still disappointed that we're not able to keep it going long-term. "We had a six-month lease but we've decided to finish a bit early as we're hoping to work on a new venue." They are now organising a week of gigs, starting on Saturday, January 30, to give fans the chance to say goodbye. Tim said: "It will be a whole week of promotions prior to closing on the 6th. We'll have lots of Leicester acts – we're in talks with the Heroes, the Dobsons, the Screening and others at the minute. "It'll be all about Leicester talent and we hope to see as many people as possible there to give the place a good send-off." Deckchair Ltd's original application, to turn the building into 11 flats, was withdrawn shortly after being submitted, but new plans have now been received by Leicester City Council. Deckchair Ltd's agent Landmark Planning Ltd said the company now planned to build three flats on the site, meaning the bar area, which they are intending to keep, will be larger than under the initial proposals. The back of the venue was originally set to be demolished, but now developers are intending to retain the large majority of the original building. However a Landmark spokesman confirmed that it would no longer continue as a live music venue. Under the new proposals, a third floor would be added to the building. Alex "Rooster" Van Roose, guitarist with Leicester indie band the Heroes, who are playing at the Charlotte on Friday, says they will play again during the closing week. He said: "It's a real shame. It's the atmosphere and the history of the place that will be missed more than anything, "It's just sad as it's only just opened again. The closing week will be a brilliant week though, I'm guessing it'll be packed every night."
Lillehamring Posted 14 December 2009 Posted 14 December 2009 such a massive part of my world for so long, this is so sad - i'm just gald i got to play one gig there...
Finnegan Posted 14 December 2009 Posted 14 December 2009 I've played the Charlotte, it was shit. Overhyped venue with a wank sound set up, there are other venues of it's size in the city. People only bum it because it's the closest Leicester's got to any sort of underground "hip" vibe to it. I heard the uni are building an accademy sized venue? If that's the case then bring it on, progress all the way. This city's needed a PROPER sized venue for decades with nobody decent seeming to want to use the De Mont. Bring it on, I say. No more travelling to Sheffield, Brum and Nottingham for everything worth seeing.
The Doctor Posted 14 December 2009 Posted 14 December 2009 I heard the uni are building an accademy sized venue? If that's the case then bring it on, progress all the way. This city's needed a PROPER sized venue for decades with nobody decent seeming to want to use the De Mont.
lou Posted 14 December 2009 Posted 14 December 2009 From the MercAlex "Rooster" Van Roose, guitarist with Leicester indie band the Heroes, who are playing at the Charlotte on Friday, says they will play again during the closing week. He said: "It's a real shame. It's the atmosphere and the history of the place that will be missed more than anything, "It's just sad as it's only just opened again. The closing week will be a brilliant week though, I'm guessing it'll be packed every night." One of my Sons mates! Good band too. Gutted but inevitable... we dont have nearly enough student flats
Finnegan Posted 14 December 2009 Posted 14 December 2009 1. That smiley strikes me as really, really obnoxious and always inspires me to want to twat the person using it. 2. Pretty sure I read it on Foxes Talk actually, scroll back a few pages through the music forum I can't be arsed. Oh, here you go, or you could just use google like a normal person: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news...il/article.html
Libertine Posted 14 December 2009 Posted 14 December 2009 I too have heard this rumour. Better happen too else I'll kick off.
Lillehamring Posted 14 December 2009 Posted 14 December 2009 I've played the Charlotte, it was shit. Overhyped venue with a wank sound set up, there are other venues of it's size in the city. People only bum it because it's the closest Leicester's got to any sort of underground "hip" vibe to it.I heard the uni are building an accademy sized venue? If that's the case then bring it on, progress all the way. This city's needed a PROPER sized venue for decades with nobody decent seeming to want to use the De Mont. Bring it on, I say. No more travelling to Sheffield, Brum and Nottingham for everything worth seeing. shame it's not in the city centre though, nice as it will no doubt be, it would be way more successful in town... as for the charlotte, shit it may have been but for me it was like playing at filbert street, just something that i wanted to do from the age of about 16 and finally managed it in very strange circumstances 15 years later! never got to kick a ball at filbo tho
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