A York nightclub under threat of closure is set to party on, it was announced today.
Kuda on Clifford Street will stay open, owner Rekom UK has confirmed, safeguarding 28 jobs.
It follows a review and restructure of Rekom’s business, which put the future of all 35 of its clubs across the country in doubt. At least one of the venues, in Wrexham, has now been shut.
Rekom UK said Kuda York “attracts many hundreds of people into the city every month, forming a key part of the local economy and supporting other businesses, such as taxi firms, takeaways and bars”.
Kuda, originally called the Gallery, was closed by the lockdowns for much of 2020. Owner The Deltic Group went into administration, and was bought by Rekom.
The building itself, which is also home to the York Dungeon, was bought by York developers Grantside and North Star. They appointed Rekom as Kuda’s operator on a ten-year-lease, and it reopened in July 2021.
However, last month Rekom UK said it had filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators for a number of companies within the group.
The company had been hit both by a surge in costs and its customer base, young adults and students, having less disposable income.
Today Rekom’s managing director, Russell Quelch, said: “We are thrilled that Kuda will be part of our business moving forward and we look forward to the venue continuing to play a key role in York’s late night economy.
“The restructure puts the national business on a stronger footing and allows the UK team to focus on key growth opportunities.
“Kuda York will form part of this strategy as we look to develop our businesses in key locations and expand our cluster offering.”