- Waterfront site remains vacant as agents continue attempts to attract new tenants.
- High ‘upfront costs’ to renovate the venue being blamed for lack of solid interest.
- Would you like to see another nightclub open? Have your say below.
THE former Liquid and Envy nightclub on the Waterfront has proved difficult to sub-let because the unit was gutted when the previous owners moved out, according to the agents responsible for marketing the site.
The once popular club, which sits above restaurant TGI Friday’s, closed five years ago.
December 2002: Liquid Jersey opens its doors.
June 2006: The venue re-opens after renovation as Liquid & Envy – the latter being for over-25s only.
March 2010: Luminar, the company behind the club, pulls out of Jersey, forcing Liquid and Chicago Rock Café to close.
Letting agents BNP Paribas, who are still hoping to attract a new tenant, said that the unit was stripped internally, leaving potential tenants with substantial upfront costs to refit the property.
A sub-lease on the unit is currently being offered by Friends Life Limited, which obtained a long-term lease on the site from the Jersey Development Company.
Chris Daniels, property consultant for BNP Paribas Real Estate, said: ‘We’ve had a reasonable amount of interest in it, but the problem we have is that when Liquid moved out the unit was stripped out.
‘Any incoming operator would have a very high upfront capital cost to get it back up and running as a nightclub.
Mr Daniels added that the site was further restricted as any new tenants could not operate businesses that would directly compete with others in the area.
And, he said, the unit, which is still being marketed in the UK, also had very little natural light.
One option is to split the 17,000 sq ft property into two smaller units as there were two separate entrances to the site.
‘Most of the interest we’ve had has been from UK operators, with a couple of local operators looking at it for temporary use,’ Mr Daniels said. ‘The problem we have there, again, is that because it has been stripped back to a shell the infrastructure is not there to support anything.
‘If the right operator comes along the landlord is more than prepared to offer it at a very competitive rental rate to make sure that the premises is being used and maintained.’
Today’s news that the building which once housed Liquid nightclub on the Waterfront remains empty will not be a surprise to many.
According to the letting agents, BNP Paribas, the unit has been stripped bare internally and any potential tenant would face ‘substantial upfront costs’ before considering moving in.
The large premises were designed and built as a nightclub and, in a small Island, one has to question whether there is enough demand for another viable large dance venue.
There is certainly an appetite for clubbing in Jersey, as proved by the 2,000 people who signed a petition just 18 months ago calling upon the States to extend some licences to 4 am.
The landlords and letting agents now have the unenviable task of trying to attract other potential tenants into what is, effectively, a purpose-built nightclub measuring 17,000 square feet.
Those who have ever visited the building will recall that apart from a small side bar with balcony, the main nightclub has very few, if any, windows. BNP Paribas faces an uphill struggle to sell the venue as anything other than an empty nightclub.
But we should at least hope that the States of Jersey Development Company has learned from its predecessors that developing something too specific can be a dangerous gamble.
As it gets ever closer to starting its long-awaited Esplanade business district, it would be wise not to repeat the same mistakes. With pre-let agreements or not, the Island will find it very hard to forgive those responsible if office blocks join the former nightclub as ugly, empty shells which stand as a reminder to the ill-thought-out vision of those who failed to listen to public opinion.
A welcome sight
