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Turnmills nightclub |
Nightclub faces closure as planners back offices
Forced to quit building, Turnmills hints at possible new home
LEGENDARY nightclub Turnmills is to be turned into a five-storey office block.
A closure date has still to be set for the Clerkenwell club, the first in the country to have a 24-hour licence. The nightclub has hosted gigs by world-famous DJs Tall Paul, Judge Jules and The Chemical Brothers.
It was outside the Clerkenwell Road club that former East End gang member “Mad” Frankie Fraser was shot in 1991.
Planners have given approval for a two-storey extension at the building, with the basement nightclub becoming offices.
A Turnmills spokes- man said this week: “Is the club closing? The answer is yes, eventually. When? Well, that remains to be seen. Is it moving? Watch this space.”
Landlord Derwent London plans to expand the building’s floor space by nearly half – to 64,750sq ft.
Islington Council’s planning committee has given permission for a two-storey rooftop extension. Architect Piercy Connor, who designed the scheme, has incorporated shops into the plans, but most of the building will be reserved for offices.
Derwent London project manager David Thurston said: “The scheme includes the refurbishment, the extension on the top floor and the basement, where the nightclub is.
“Our business is to improve buildings and improve the desirability of people coming to these buildings.”
Derwent London has not set a date for work to start on the development.
A Turnmills spokesman said: “As far as we are concerned our lease is still intact until any legal documents have been signed, which they haven’t at this stage and the permission to develop does not mean they need vacant possession for the first phase of the building works.
“The long-term plan for the building and development far exceeds our existing lease, and we are in negotiation with the landlords to buy us out of the remaining lease if they want to bring the development of the basement forward, which they may or may not want to do. It’s very early days.
“Turnmills’ lease expires in 2010. If we decide to accept any offer to vacate before that time it will be through mutual consent.”
In April 2003, a gang of armed men burst into the club, which was due to host So Solid Crew singer Lisa Maffia’s launch night, and robbed clubbers.
They followed two men outside, and, following a high-speed car chase, one man – Jason Fearon – was shot dead. |
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