‘It’s the end of an era’ – York nightclub to close at New Year

A York club is to close after it failed to renew its tenancy.

Mansion Nightclub on Micklegate will shut on New Year’s Day.

Launched eight years ago, the 500-capacity, three-storey venue also includes lap dancing club Upstairs VIP, which will close too.

Owner Andrew Whitney told YorkMix:

• It’s the end of an era. I’ve had Mansion since October 2011.

  It’s come to an end. The landlord wants the building back. We’ve tried our darnedest to renegotiate a new tenancy, but he wasn’t willing to renew the tenancy.
  

Search is on

Mansion brought many top DJs to York, as well as special guests – Drag Race UK‘s Crystal is visiting on 24 November.

A post on the Mansion Underground Facebook Page confirmed the closure. It said:

• We have shared so many amazing memories over the past few years; so many special raves pulling some of the biggest names in underground house, bass and techno.

  From the days where Freakin consistently filled the basement right through to the current days of Phats and Bassmentality pulling students and locals alike together in the name of a party.
  

Andrew said they would look for a new venue. But he said it would be a challenge to find a building in a suitable location large enough to take 500 people.

The news comes as another blow to York nightlife. Fibbers has been put on a rolling tenancy after its Toft Green home was sold for redevelopment, and plans were approved in September to turn Club Salvation on George Hudson Street into a restaurant and holiday flats.

Andrew said:

• The thing that’s choking music venues is, they’re only open six hours a day.

  How can you operate on business rates of nearly £30,000 a year when you’re only opening from 9pm till 3am, four nights a week?
  

Mansion is about to announce details of its New Year’s Eve party, which will also serve as its final blow out.