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Liverpool’s Kazimer to close, Glasgow’s The Arches to not
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 8 April 2015
Liverpool venue Kazimer is to close on 1 Jan next year, following a New Years party, it has been announced.
The closure is a result of plans to redevelop the city’s Wolstenholme Square, which are still pending planning permission from the council. The £40 million plan put forward by developer Elliot Group would create new commercial and residential properties, including a new home for Liverpool club Cream. It is possible that there will also be space for a new venue run by Kazimer’s founders too, though this has not been confirmed.
Speaking to Getintothis, Elliot Lawless of Elliot Group said: “We’re not there yet as it’s vital that the square’s stakeholders get a chance to tell us what they think, but what’s currently on the table is exciting and imaginative … The two clubs [Cream and Kazimer] are emblematic brands for Liverpool and we’re keen to support them. We’ve had some very positive discussions with both operators and although in its very early stages, the project presents them with a huge opportunity to do something exciting”.
Kazimier’s Liam Naughton was positive about the move, but stressed that this was the end for Kazimer: “We support the proposed plans for the project – development of Wolstenholme Square has been expected for some time. The Kazimier will not be moving into a new site offered within the development, however, talks are in progress with Elliot Group about a team of interested parties from the Kazimier staff and collaborators taking on this opportunity”.
Further pushing the point that the Kazmier would not return after its closure, a statement from the venue said: “We could never have envisioned the warmth of feeling The Kazimier Club has created since opening its doors seven years ago, nor could we have envisioned it surviving for as long as it has, but true to its original ethos we believe it needs to finish on a high, in the same bricks and mortar as its birth”.
It continued: “As this chapter has drawn to a close, we want to make it clear that this is the end of a building – the original artistic core and the wider Kazimier team are moving forwards with a variety of new projects in various new spaces”. A nine month programme of farewell events is set to be announced shortly.
In other venue news, The Arches in Glasgow is to remain open, despite an apparent police bid to have it shut down permanently. Last month, a club night was cut short after 26 drug and alcohol-related offences were reported in one night and a woman was found unconscious outside the venue.
Issuing a statement last week, The Arches told people attending events: “If you are in possession of a harmful substance, legal or illegal, you are not welcome in this venue. We understand that substance use can be part of a clubber’s experience and we make provision to treat and engage with people showing the side effects of drug use”.
It continued: “However, if found with a harmful substance hidden on your person, the police will be called immediately to the venue. This is not only damaging for you, but for The Arches as well. You may not just ruin your own night but the nights of many others and events to come. The Arches cannot go on without you and it cannot go on without your support. We are here for you, please be there for us. Work with us, not against us”.
