A hotel chain has pulled out of plans to transform a former iconic Welsh nightclub. The old TJ’s club in Newport city centre has been empty since the ex-owner John Sicolo died in 2010.
The club, previously a staple of Newport’s social scene which hosted the likes of Oasis and the Manic Street Preachers in its heyday and was dedicated to supporting the local music scene, was earmarked for a budget hotel by easyHotel. Plans were approved for a 58-bedroom hotel in 2019, which received cross-party backing.
But now a spokesperson for easyHotel has confirmed the company is no longer interested in leasing the building. “We previously looked into an opportunity to work with the building owner and a franchise partner to turn the building into an easyHotel but have since discontinued these talks and easyHotel is no longer involved in the process,” they said. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
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In May the owners were ordered to carry out repair work to the “dangerous” building and were threatened with legal action. Newport city council previously served a section 77 dangerous structure notice on the building following several previous warnings.
That work is underway with a facade restored and a stonemason appointed, while the hoarding has since been removed from the building's front. Newport council says its officers are continuing to monitor the work “with a view to taking further action if necessary”.
