Majestyk , City Square

[Chrisyd]

Is Majestyk still open?

The website says it shut last year, for an exciting new development, but also has an events calender showing events happening every Friday and Saturday, but not over the week.

Is Majestyk still open or if not what is this exciting new development?

[Val Verde]

Originally Posted by Chrisyd

Is Majestyk still open?

The website says it shut last year, for an exciting new development, but also has an events calender showing events happening every Friday and Saturday, but not over the week.

Is Majestyk still open or if not what is this exciting new development?

It definately closed down even though external signs are still visible and lit up and night it is definately closed down as there was an article hailing its closure in the YEP last year. Also planning notices have gone up the outside of this former club saying its change of use into a casino (to be known as Majestyk Casino) which I believe the whole building including the former Jumping Jacks will also be part of. It has a nice atrium on the inside and surely that will remain the same as part of any development.

I guess Majestyk had become a bit passe as clubs tend to have a short life span anyway due to changing clienteles and fashion especially with Heaven and Hell closing last year and recently becoming Rios, Babycream suddenly closing without any notice and Creation is currently being refitted into Liquid and Envy and there is the possibility of Evolution and Baha Beach bar being sold on being other noted changes in the club scene in Leeds recently. Anyway here is a closing statement from their website at http://www.ukcn.com/clubs/desktopdefault.aspx?poid=64:

END OF AN ERA

AS ENGLAND KICK OFF THEIR WORLD CUP

CAMPAIGN, THE MAJESTYK AND

JUMPING JAKS IS ENDING. THAT'S RIGHT, WITH

A PROSPECTIVE NEW

DEVELOPMENT ON THE HORIZON FOR THE CLUB,

ITS LAST NIGHT TRADING

AS A NIGHTCLUB IS JUNE 10TH.

COME DOWN AND JOIN US IN THE END OF AN ERA

PARTY.

GOODBYE AND THANKYOU TO YOU ALL.

MAJESTYK/JUMPING JAKS.

[mark*ie]

END OF AN ERA

AS ENGLAND KICK OFF THEIR WORLD CUP

CAMPAIGN, THE MAJESTYK AND

JUMPING JAKS IS ENDING. THAT'S RIGHT, WITH

A PROSPECTIVE NEW

DEVELOPMENT ON THE HORIZON FOR THE CLUB,

ITS LAST NIGHT TRADING

AS A NIGHTCLUB IS JUNE 10TH.

COME DOWN AND JOIN US IN THE END OF AN ERA

PARTY.

GOODBYE AND THANKYOU TO YOU ALL.

MAJESTYK/JUMPING JAKS.

Yes but no thanks ! Honestly NO !

[Val Verde]

Originally Posted by mark*ie

Yes but no thanks ! Honestly NO !

Lol very funny it just shows how much Leeds's nightlife has moved on when Majestyk first opened it might seem incredible now but wasn't it fashionable when it opened in the mid 1990s. Of course in the latter years like most other nightclubs it has become a bit of a chav fest and im not really a fan of such places anyway preferring to go to nice bars instead such as those on Call Lane.

[Dan B]

Never went this. Are there any other large clubs in town that will actually play decent music? I've gone to The West Indian Centre in Chapletown twice now, which is pretty good and plays plenty of Drum and Bass and Dub. Never really go for big nights out in the town centre though, which obviously is a thousand times better than Bradford's offering. I just go The Mill nowadays, great ravers club.

[Orgoglioso]

Gatecrasher!!! and Mission!!!!

[The King]

mission is class majestic was class back in the day but like a cheessy clubs they have a limited shelf life as the new ness of the club is the biggest appeal not the music or clientel

[LeedsLad]

Hey I 'cut my clubbing teeth'/'got me a clubbing education' in Majestyks back in the day. I was pretty sad when it shut (not that I'd been in for years). Shame they didn't go down the refurb route as it was pretty spectacular inside with the domed high ceiling and 4 balconies! It was famous across the whole country too. They're spending millions on the old Creation/T&C, but that's got the whole anyclub anywhere feel...

[mark*ie]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Lol very funny it just shows how much Leeds's nightlife has moved on when Majestyk first opened it might seem incredible now but wasn't it fashionable when it opened in the mid 1990s. Of course in the latter years like most other nightclubs it has become a bit of a chav fest and im not really a fan of such places anyway preferring to go to nice bars instead such as those on Call Lane.

Yes in the mid late 80s, 90s if you wanted a late night drink, you had no choice but to queue up for the night club pay a large entrance fee and then even more so get ripped off again at the bar !, and if you had jeans and trainers on well thats it you had no chance of getting past the 6ft 9 doorman... of course even back then I loved my jeans and trainers, so 7pm happy hour starts and 11 pm finish was the norm for me, I'm with Val Verd on this.. cant see the point of going to clubs when the bars are open till 3am and the Reform is now open till 5am next door to MoJos, I do go down the calls sometimes Oporto ok for the birds, but the music beer and drinks on offer are dire and dated, no selection and crap. Jakes bar is better for the music, some nice birds, shame none work behind the bar cos youd get an evenings eyeful just waiting for your drink it takes a bloody age to get sereved even when there is no one in ! Sandanista is a favourite bar of mine at the mo, you get sereved in less than 3 min drinks are great with Nastro Peroni on draught, Hey and you must try the Appletons Rum with Ginger beer and ice ! Its fantastic, they play some good music as well.... open while 3am.

[Alexi Lalas]

get down to Stinky's Peephouse/MyHouse. not for the feint hearted, it's awesome

[Chrisyd]

Thanks for the updates, I remember going, on a Tuesday, when it first opened and queuing outside from about 7..30pm and getting in at 9pm, by 11pm it felt like it was now actually 2am and you had the rush for the bus to Boddington Halls (which became all night the year AFTER I left) or staying for a couple more hours, fighting ot the bar for another drink.

The lazer shows were spectacular (I still can not listen to Robert Miles "The children" without thinking about the lazer show).it was a proper big city venue, not some tatty club you could find in any town in the country. This seems a real shame to me.

While I am on can anyone help me, I am going back to Leeds at the end of June and need a night out for people who love real ale, now I have heard that Whitefriars is still magnificent, but I left as the Carlsberg Tetley pub estate was sold off so what are the good pubs now.

[OranjeS3]

Originally Posted by Chrisyd

I remember going, on a Tuesday, when it first opened and queuing outside from about 7..30pm and getting in at 9pm, by 11pm it felt like it was now actually 2am and you had the rush for the bus...

The lazer shows were spectacular (I still can not listen to Robert Miles "The children" without thinking about the lazer show).it was a proper big city venue, not some tatty club you could find in any town in the country. This seems a real shame to me.

OMG I remember those days too, awesome! (in fact, I reckon the lasers were the same colour as the lighting on BWP) 1997 my 1st year, every tuesday for student night messy as you like, every thursday for a bit more of a 'grown up' night. It was a fantastic place with a real aura, is it really closed/closing?!?

I would give anything for a venue with so much character in Sheff. Big loss Leeds.

[LeedsLad]

Scarborough Taps opposite Dino's near the Dark Arches is meant to be good for real ale... And there's Dr Kellar (or something) that used to be Baroque on the Headrow near town hall lots of guest beer on tap (maybe more lager than ale?)

[mark*ie]

Quote: Chrisyd: While I am on can anyone help me, I am going back to Leeds at the end of June and need a night out for people who love real ale, now I have heard that Whitefriars is still magnificent, but I left as the Carlsberg Tetley pub estate was sold off so what are the good pubs now.

You could also try The Grove Inn, not far from the Scarborough Taps it's 5min walk away and its slap bang right next to Bridgewater Place.. They do quite a few guest ales and if your in on the right night you'll get some good live folk music, or jazz to boot.. not sure if they have a website for the latest acts and coming attractions ? Hope this helps

[joeyB_86]

Arcadia in Headingly is right good for ale. It does a big pie, peas and a pint on mondays as well. And it never lets otley runners in either. ACE!

[Bradley Hardacre]

From today's YEP. I wasn't aware of the casino plan anyway but how many casinos can Leeds accomodate, given the recent large casino approved by the government still has to be fitted in? It's a shame a better use (theatre or concert hall?) couldn't be found for this given the building's quality and location.

Delay on casino plan for ex-city nightclub

By Debbie Leigh

AN application for a licence to turn one of the most famous buildings in Leeds into a casino has been delayed.

Leeds magistrates were to decide whether to grant a gaming licence for the former Majestyk nightclub in City Square on April 7 but the date has now been put back until after a Court of Appeal hearing which could affect their decision.

On April 7 two casino companies, Noble Organisation and Thistle hotels, will argue before judges in London that the statutory test to determine the grounds of gaming licences is being too narrowly interpreted by the courts.

Paddy Whur, partner at Walker Morris, the legal firm acting behalf of the firm leading the Majestyk project – Waterimage – said if the judges agreed with the firms it would be good news for the Leeds application.

He said: “Hopefully it will be helpful. If the parties in London win it will be accepted that it has been too restrictive a test and that it should assist us in our application in Leeds.”

Waterimage, a partnership between Luminar plc and Lucien Barriere, a French hotel and casino company, wants to turn the former Majestyk nightclub into Majestic Casino, a multi-entertainment venue with gaming tables, slot machines and cabaret, as well as bars and restaurants.

The statutory test for gaming licences relates to the level of demand, an issue already being questioned by firms with existing gambling hotspots in Leeds.

There are already several casinos in Leeds, including the Grosvenor Casino in Merrion Way in the city centre and Gala Casino on Westgate and London Clubs International is opening a £15m 65,000 sq ft casino Alea at Clarence Dock later this year.

Different

Mr Whur said LCI, Grosvenor and Gala had objected to the plans for Majestyk, arguing there wasn’t sufficient demand for another casino in the city.

But he said the proposals were for something different to anything already on offer.

“Lucien do it very differently, there’s a lot more entertainment, quality restaurants, it’s very, very different to the existing market in Leeds.”

A new date has not yet been set for the Leeds gaming licence hearing. The project to transform the listed building, which includes Jumpin Jaks, into an £11.5m casino, creating around 200 jobs, was unveiled earlier this month.

The refurbished venue would comprise a ground-floor space with slot machines and gambling tables and a stage for music and cabaret.

The upper balcony would be split into three areas, with a restaurant and rooms for private gaming.

Plans for the basement area include a sports bar with giant TV screens and scope for private hire and a disco.

The Majestic was one of the country’s largest cinemas when it was built in 1922, seating 2,392 people, and later became Majestyk nightclub.

If given the go-ahead the casino could be up and running in under a year.

[MiseryGuts]

I once went to Godskitchen in the town hall nye 01' which was stunning also.

[LoveTheCity]

I say turn it into an art gallery, would have said a museum but dont think it would be big enough? Or an IMAX cinema, then we dont have to go to Bradford

[Stefan88]

Something certainly needs to be done with it as it's such an attractive and unique building.
A cinema sounds like a good idea but if it was to open as one I'd like to see it show films similar to the Broadwa in Nottingham.

http://www.broadway.org.uk/

[Leeds No.1]

What happened to the casino plan for it?

A cinema would be good here, although as mentioned, Leeds needs a bigger art gallery.