ISLINGTON’s Gateway Hotel will close its doors for a rebirth under new management.
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The venue will close later this month until early March, relaunching under new name The Newcastle Hotel when the doors swing back open.
“The Newcastle Hotel will be an all-inclusive venue, catering for local residents, the wider community and music lovers,” licensee Paul Curtis said in a statement.
The 778-square-metre landmark site also houses music venue The Small Ballroom, an asset Mr Curtis said he was keen to see used more as live music fights for its place in the city’s nightlife.
He said there was a “significant budget” to provide more electronic music, while the overall quality of the touring band roster would be more structured and of a higher quality.
“For the last four or five years it’s just been a Saturday night venue,” he said. “That’s not sustainable.”
The Newcastle Herald reported a dispute between sacked drag performers and management in January last year led to calls for the venue to lose its status as a list of safe venues for Newcastle’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Mr Curtis said it was about broadening the hotel’s appeal to match modern expectations, saying it was “fair to say” the idea of an LGBTQI-only venue was outdated and part of the reasoning behind the name change.
“I think [the name needs to change] because of the perception in the marketplace that for 20 years it’s been an LGBT venue,” he said. “Today’s market is all-inclusive, it’s all about being accepted anywhere.”
“The Newcastle Hotel including the Small Ballroom will continue to be a safe inclusive space, catering for all music lovers, our neighbours and friends.
“We are here for all.”
Mr Curtis said the overhaul would include a “new and exciting food offering that is unique to Newcastle”.
A last hurrah is scheduled for Saturday February 17.
“We look forward to the exciting new times as The Newcastle Hotel and Small Ballroom, he said.
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