Legendary Bristol nightclub Lakota will close to make way for flats and offices
One of Bristol's most famous nightclubs will be turned into offices and flats, it was confirmed yesterday (Wednesday, 29 April).
The news comes comes shortly after the club was offered up to charities and organisations during the coronavirus crisis.
Lakota has been a staple of the city's famed nightlife scene for decades and the decision has been described as a huge blow.
It will now make way for a mixed-use development including 54 homes.
The decision was made by Bristol City Council's Development Control Committee via a Zoom video call.
It will also see the closure of the Coroner's Court and Stokes Croft Beer Garden.
In the 90s the Stokes Croft venue was seen as one of the most famous clubs in the country, welcoming many of the world’s biggest DJs.
It is still held in high regard today, loved for its dingy nature, pounding sound system and impressive lineups.
The scheme, which has been submitted on behalf of The Old Bottle Works, includes 54 residential dwellings spread across the site.
The applicants say they intend to keep the ground floor of the Upper York Street building, where Lakota is based, for business use but it is currently unclear what that would be specifically.
The rest of the site will be made up of 42 one-bedroom flats/studio, 11 two-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom flat.
The planning application received hundreds of letters of objection who are concerned about the loss of the famous nightclub and the impact it will have on the city.
Campaigners argued the closure of Lakota will see the loss of around £20 million a year it generates for the economy, the loss of thousands of jobs and the loss of amenity for local community events, including its use for St Paul's Carnival.
There was also a petition to try and save the venue which received nearly 8,000 signatures.
Those who voted against the application argued the importance of the venue to the city's culture and its people.
When discussing the decision, Councillor Olly Mead, one of three who voted against it, argued: "This is a place that has given bands that are emerging an opportunity to do their music and gain experience, and I would say that's a valuable asset for the city".
Labour Councillor Harriet Bradley said she was "astonished" that the aforementioned petition was not mentioned by the case officer and Labour Councillor Nicola Bowden also argued that the petition should be taken into account.
In total three councillors voted against the plan, while six voted in favour of it. There was one abstention.