Plans to demolish a former nightclub in Newport have been given the final go-ahead. The old Zanzibar nightclub on Stow Hill is being demolished and plans to turn it into 37 affordable flats were approved by the council last June.
The building has had a colourful past, having been a chapel, a popular punk venue and a home-from-home for ravers. From 1997 to 2007 it was known as Zanzibar, a 1,800 capacity club which was a mainstay of Newport's social scene in the 1990s that had risen from the ashes of its punk roots.
Before that, the building was home to the Stowaway in the 1970s and hosted bands like Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Pretenders and the Sex Pistols. The club has also been known variously as Escapade, Lazer and Brooklyn Heights during its history before closing for good in 2007. See some of the best pictures from the club down the years here.
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In 2018 the building was badly damaged by a fire which also left its neighbour, Bethel Community Church, with thousands of pounds worth of damage. It later became the subject of plans by Linc Cymru to build 37 affordable flats which were approved by Newport City Council in June 2022. A separate application to demolish the back end of the building was also submitted and was approved by council planners this week, paving the way for work to begin. Under the plans, the familiar façade of the Grade-II listed building will be retained with the remainder becoming flats.
The plans will include 26 one-bed and 11 two-bed flat across two buildings as well as a shared parking court with communal garden area and dedicated bin store. A council report said the plan for the Zanzibar site would "bring a significant benefit and a positive impact" to Newport because it "represents an opportunity to restore the façade to its historic appearance, as well as delivering much needed affordable housing". Planners also noted the scheme "would deliver sustainable development through the reuse of a prominent brownfield site in the city centre."
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