davieG Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Merc A nightclub and a karaoke bar are set to be opened in the heart of Leicester's cultural quarter. Promoter Tim Sturgess plans to reopen the former Dielectric venue in the basement of an old Victorian building opposite Curve – and says there are also plans to turn the former G-Spot sex club into a singing bar. ​ Dielectric was a popular destination on the rave scene until it was shut about 15 years ago following a police drugs raid. G-Spot closed last year and the premises have been empty since. Mr Sturgess has already held a number of club nights at Dielectric, having been granted temporary licences, but now he has asked Leicester City Council for permanent permission to open. He said: "Dielectric was a rave club and was really big. I want to reopen it but I'm looking at something a bit different. I want bands playing live there and people who are really into their music. "I've been doing deep house nights on Saturdays there and it has been going very well. "The old G-Spot used to be part of Dielectric but that is going to be a karaoke bar. I am helping set that up." Mr Sturgess has applied to open from 10pm to 4am at weekends and from 10pm to 3am midweek. The club can hold 200 people. He said: "Some people have been funny about it and said it's not right for the area, but I say a cultural quarter has to have a mix of cultures. This will be for people who are really into their music. "Theatre and art appeal only to a small margin of people. Athena and Curve will be closed when we are open so there won't be any problems with them." The move has prompted residents' concerns about noise from the proposed venues. One resident, who lives in a flat near Orton Square, said he was worried about noise going on early into the morning. He said: "We have problems with the bars sometimes already, so if you stick a club into the mix it will be even worse. I accept if you choose to live in a busy city centre you have to expect some noise, but you can also expect to be allowed to get some sleep." Mr Sturgess said: "If we get a licence it will come with conditions. We can't have music pumping out the door. We will be working with the council's noise team. "If it's too loud we will lose the licence. We don't want to upset residents. We will use common sense." Chairman of the Cultural Quarter Business Association, Cassie Cockerill, who runs the Exchange Bar, said she supported the opening of the club. She said: "Some people have complained about it but I think it's scare-mongering. "If we want the existing bars and restaurants in the area to succeed we need more businesses to set up." The council is currently considering Mr Sturgess's licence application. Mr Sturgess previously ran The Auditorium, in Market Place, which was forced to shut down because it was losing money in September 2011, a year after it opened.
Rincewind Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Has to be an improvement on the Ale Wagon and their cheerful staff.
Guest Col city fan Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Magic! I love karaoke. I'm a failed X factor contestant...
Guest Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Are a nightclub and a karaoke bar really considered "cultural" in Leicester/England?
rico Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Are a nightclub and a karaoke bar really considered "cultural" in Leicester/England? No,but swingers clubs are!
Langston Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Don't see what there is to moan about, really, anything that adds something a little lighter to a city's nightlife scene can't be too bad. Hardly as if he's setting up a whorehouse. Are a nightclub and a karaoke bar really considered "cultural" in Leicester/England? No, hence why some have raised issue with it....
Guest MattP Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Had a couple of great nights in G Spot as a younger man. Hidden Gem of the City. Karaoke bar sounds ok providing you get a decent crowd in to do it, if it's a load of pissed up idiots singing Andy Williams is can get a bit tedious.
Finnegan Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 So Tramplighters for the middle class? Potential to be fun but most likely set to be ruined by obnoxious, paraletic binge drinkers destroying everyone's ears. Karaoke is horrific over here. It works in other cultures because they're a little bit reserved and don't do excess like we do.
Guest MattP Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 So Tramplighters for the middle class? Potential to be fun but most likely set to be ruined by obnoxious, paraletic binge drinkers destroying everyone's ears. Karaoke is horrific over here. It works in other cultures because they're a little bit reserved and don't do excess like we do. I've been up on the Lamplighters and the Taverns karaoke a few times, it used to actually be quite decent when Finchy did it. This one has the potential for anything, least the Sound House is only a 3-4 min walk away if you want some decent music to listen to.
Tielemans63 Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 'Sex Club'?! That's (semantically) a bit more involved than a 'lap dancing' club!
Guest MattP Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 'Sex Club'?! That's (semantically) a bit more involved than a 'lap dancing' club! Was a swingers place, had some room at the back where you could go and shag. If you were a young guy you get seedy old gits in there trying to buy you a drink and asking you to shag **** their wife while they watched through the peephole. Like I said, one of Leicester's hidden gems.
Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 I played the Auditorium, supporting Bad Manners. The old bingo hall - they just took the seats out, no further work done. Was ridiculous entering it as a venue! Wasn't even open a year, doubt this will last that long - not very well run and obviously on a tight budget
m00nie Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 thought the building was condemned as it needed loads of work.. a few clubs opened back up recently, sosho ( old life) , manilla (simkins), xy (old o4/superfly) pyramid lounge (isu bar) there more nightclubs though so this might be something different all though the charlotte and Auditorium wuould have stayed open if any good surely
Tielemans63 Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 Was a swingers place, had some room at the back where you could go and shag. If you were a young guy you get seedy old gits in there trying to buy you a drink and asking you to shag **** their wife while they watched through the peephole. Like I said, one of Leicester's hidden gems. Can't help but feel I've missed a great opportunity...
Tielemans63 Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 P.s. Haven't lived in Leicester for a few years now - can anyone tell me if the new theatre (can't remember it's official name) opposite the 'G-Spot' has actually started to attract a reasonable level of custom yet? In its first few months I waited for a decent show to be advertised but nothing. Has it improved yet?
FoxesAreBlue Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 The Curve. Lots of shows advertised, god knows how popular they are tbh. I don't think you'll struggle to get tickets let's put it that way.
rico Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 P.s. Haven't lived in Leicester for a few years now - can anyone tell me if the new theatre (can't remember it's official name) opposite the 'G-Spot' has actually started to attract a reasonable level of custom yet? In its first few months I waited for a decent show to be advertised but nothing. Has it improved yet? Bono and The Edge were there for Finding Neverland premiere
Dr The Singh Posted 31 October 2012 Posted 31 October 2012 A day of remorse, G Spot will surely be missed
Guest Posted 1 November 2012 Posted 1 November 2012 The Curve. Lots of shows advertised, god knows how popular they are tbh. I don't think you'll struggle to get tickets let's put it that way. These types of places need to be supported more by the people of Leicester. They are not elitist. If you go and watch a show or a ballet you'll enjoy it. Real people acting before your eyes putting their hearts and soul into it - for you. I used to love going to the phoenix and the Haymarket and demont for different events. Open your eyes, open your minds, support live entertainment.
davieG Posted 1 November 2012 Author Posted 1 November 2012 A day of remorse, G Spot will surely be missed Most blokes have a job finding it apparently.
danny. Posted 1 November 2012 Posted 1 November 2012 I've never been disappointed with a show at Curve, and it's really good value, esp. on Tuesdays (when it is impossible to get a ticket). Finding Neverland was brilliant and premiered here.
Captain... Posted 1 November 2012 Posted 1 November 2012 Most blokes have a job finding it apparently. That's because it is up your bum.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 1 November 2012 Posted 1 November 2012 Everyone loves getting smashed and belting out a song from Grease at Karaoke
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.