Bristol City Council has made the decision to allow Lakota to be turned into offices and flats.
Bristol nightclub Lakota will close its doors, the Bristol Post reports. The venue will be converted into a series of offices and 54 residential units with Coroner’s Court and Stokes Croft Beer Garden also set to close as part of the development.
The decision to close the club was confirmed by Bristol City Council’s Development Control Committee in a hearing yesterday, despite a campaign to save Lakota gaining 8000 signatures. The Burgess family, which owns the venue, expressed their interest in closing the club to make way for development back in 2018.
“We’ve been part of the city’s club scene, and the St Paul’s and Stokes Croft community, since the early 80’s and with so many years of running clubs and pubs in the area amassed we’ve decided that it’s the right time for us to explore new opportunities for our site on the corner of Upper York St and Moon St,” a statement from the family, reported in the Post reads.
“The former Stokes Croft Brewery, Lakota nightclub and the former Coroner’s Court all make up the site that we own and it has great potential to support the local community above and beyond a nightclub.
“Working with community networks, residents and local business, we’re reviewing how best we can continue to support the neighbourhood that we’ve been part of for over 30 years and this includes looking at proposals to convert it into a mixed-use site, which will include residential accommodation as well as some business space.
“Our plans will take time to develop. So, it’s very much business as usual for the next few years as Lakota will continue working with promoters to offer a range of club nights and events in the way it has always done.”
The decision to grant planning permission at the site has been criticised by some on social media as part of a wave of gentrification in Stokes Croft and Bristol. Lakota served as a pillar of Bristol’s nightlife for over two decades, welcoming DJs from across the world as well as hosting local talent. Crack Magazine has hosted various events in the space.
