'It just seemed such a waste to let LA's die'

09/02/2011

THOUSANDS mourned their loss when Hull’s legendary nightclub Lexington Avenue (LA’s) closed its doors.

But now, faithful fans have rescued the abandoned furniture and fittings to reopen the club just half a mile down the road.

Lexington Avenue has once again emerged from the dry ice and been carefully rebuilt in east Hull’s Malton Street – just a short walk from its previous home in Ferensway.

Although not an exact replica of its bigger brother, the new smaller venue still boasts many of the same features.

Furniture, light fittings and props from the old bar have been carefully moved to the new club, which has been built in a former school.

Owner Mike Thompson, who used to frequent the old LA’s and DJ there when it was known as Peppermint Park, said: “Ididn’t want LA’s to die, so this is just a continuation of the old Lexington Avenue.

“It was probably the last of the super clubs – there was no expense spared when they were building it.

“So it seemed such a waste to let all that go.

“For me, there was an opportunity to keep it going.”

Changes like this in the leisure landscape are likely to bring a boost to Hull’s nightlife.

The reopening of favorite venues, coupled with a partnership approach by some of the Old Town pubs is geared to attract more people into the city centre.

In addition to Lexington Avenue, the former Baltic Wharf is due to open its doors again at Hull Marina later this year, building on the huge success of The Wilson, the café bar and restaurant opened by the same operators late last year.

Details of the development are being kept under wraps but Garness Jones advised the owners of the Baltic Wharf on potential uses for the building prior to the partenership with the team behind The Wilson.

“The Baltic Whalf stood out as something really different when it opened in the mid to late Nineties,” said Simon Grainger, the retail and leisure specialist at Garness Jones.

“The Wilson has had a similar impact on the other side of the Marina and while we don’t know their precise plans for the Baltic Whalf building, it’s exciting to think there could be another high-quality venue in that part of the city.

“Humber Street is coming to life with the success of live entertainment at Fruit and with other attractions, including the Museum Of Club Culture and Dinostar.

“The Green Bricks, Minerva and Ruscador are all established in the area and will hopefully share in the benefits of an upturn in fortunes driven by the new investment.”

In the Old Town, Garness Jones is in discussion with an independent restaurant operator  for the former Pizza Express premises on the corner of Bowlalley Lane and Lowgate.

Meanwhile the man behind Oscars, a new bar in Silver Street, aims to work in partnership with other bars to propmote the area and attract new business.

“The intention is to open a new bar and restaurant in the former Pizza Express premises,” said Simon.

“We’re working with an independent operator who has a lot of experience in this sector.

“The opening of Oscars is another positive development for the Old Town and all operators will be encouraged by the conversation of a former building in Bowlalley Lane into apartments.

“Similar residential schemes are under consideration elsewhere in the Old Town and city centre living is definitely becoming more popular once again.”

Links:

Garness Jones                

www.garnessjones.co.uk