Pub chiefs ready to bring Mayfair name back to life
ONE of Newcastle’s best loved nightlife names The Mayfair is making a comeback in Newcastle.
The popular Mayfair Ballroom, on the corner of Newgate Street and Low Friar Street, was razed to the ground soon after its final night 20 years ago, paving the way for the construction of The Gate leisure complex, which now stands in its place.
For 38 years, the venue hosted everything from staff parties and North East clubland concerts to disco nights, hairdressing competitions and, most notably, gigs by world-class rock bands including the likes of Queen, The Who, David Bowie, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, T Rex, Motorhead, Fleetwood Mac and The Clash.
Now the famous name is set to make a return, just yards from its former home, as the Mayfair Pub & Kitchen.
The new owners, Newgate Pubs & Bars Ltd, is converting the former Sam Jacks fun pub into the restaurant and bar, which already has a licence in place through landlords and building owners The Crown Estate.
The company says the venue heralds a new era for the iconic name, adding that the property’s makeover will take some of its inspiration from the famous Mayfair Ballroom’s past, aiming to drawing in the crowds who enjoyed the rock venue’s heyday while attracting a new generation of diners and drinkers.
Construction workers are currently ripping out the old bar and part of the mezzanine floor to open up the ground floor to create a new seating area for the food-led pub. The company revealed the upstairs will have a private function area named after another well-known entertainment venue of Newcastle’s past, La Dolce Vita.
It is working with historic Newcastle tea company Ringtons on the creation of a coffee shop and tea room at the front of the venue. The firm said over the coming weeks it will unveil more details on the food offering, how music will play a part, as well as the directors’ own connections to the old Mayfair Ballroom, and how it plans to pay tribute to it. The pub firm has enlisted architects JSA Design to submit documents to Newcastle City Council, seeking permission to create a pavement cafe and change the frontage, replacing the front windows with sliding doors and retractable awnings, as well as installing new Mayfair Pub & Kitchen signage.
A spokesman for The Mayfair said more than 40 jobs will be created at the site once it opens later this year, with a recruitment drive set to start soon for a range of roles in the kitchen and front of house. The spokesman said: “We chose those two iconic names of The Mayfair and The Dolce Vita not just because of the location, but also because we want to be an iconic Newcastle business.
“Lots of pubs open all the time in Newcastle and it’s important to give a new pub an identity, and so many people will know The Mayfair Ballroom and the Dolce Vita, and there will be a lot of reference to that era.”
The new venue will breathe new life into a building that has lain empty for more than two years, following the shock closure of Sam Jacks.
Sam Jacks had been a firm favourite for its match day entertainment as well as a popular haunt for young revellers and stag and hen parties, but it closed in March 2017 with its then operators citing huge costs and disruption from the nearby regeneration scheme at the Maldron Hotel, which has since been completed.
The Crown Estate has been on the hunt for a replacement tenant ever since, and in February secured a licence for potential tenants, following discussions with the council’s licensing committee.
A spokesman for The Gate said: “The Mayfair, a bar from Newgate Pubs and Bars Ltd, will soon open at The Gate and join a line-up of new openings including Eden Newcastle – bar, restaurant and night club which opened in July and The WonderBar due to open next month – the first and only venue in Newcastle to offer interactive darts, as well as food, drinks, live entertainment and Bierkeller experience.
“We also hope to announce the opening of a new leisure experience soon, increasing the leisure offer at The Gate which already includes the new Cineworld Cinema with 4DX, Superscreen and ScreenX all under one roof.”
Spokesperson
Lots of pubs open all the time in Newcastle and it’s important to give a new pub an identity