Atik closure could have a ‘big impact’

Windsor: Town manager hopes nightclub hotspot will be resurrected

The closure of Atik nightclub has been described as a ‘big blow’ for Windsor but the town manager is hoping the nightclub hotspot will be resurrected.

Nightclub operator Rekom Group confirmed the closure of the William Street establishment on Friday alongside 16 other latenight venues across the UK.

Atik has been one of the town’s busiest nightclubs since 2015, having also proved popular under previous titles such as Liquid.

Paul Roach, town manager for Windsor, Ascot and Eton, said the loss of the venue could have a ‘big impact’ on the town.

He said: “With a loss of a premises that big, I’m looking towards their staff and all the people who were employed and all the businesses that feed off a company that size.

“Hopefully with a venue that big, there’s an opportunity for another business to come in and look at it. It’s a great venue and I know its had investment recently.

“In the short term, they absolutely will be missed but I hope somebody will be looking at that and thinking ‘this is a good venue, a good location and a good town’.”

The town manager told the Express he expects the town centre’s other late-night venues in Goswell Hill could benefit in the shortterm from the closure.

But he said he is keen that the William Street venue does not remain empty for long.

He added: “My wish would be for a longer-term solution because it is a big venue.

“That whole sector has struggled in recent times. They were one of the worst hit sectors coming out of COVID. They’ve had to deal with a lot.

“We want people to be coming into the town centre.

“The one thing you can’t replicate online is that nightclub, evening out experience. It’s a blow that a venue that big has had to close.

“What I wouldn’t want is to see a venue that big stay empty for years and years.”

Peter Marks, chairman of Rekom UK, said: “Following a review of our business, we were unable to reach an agreement with our landlord and have been forced to hand back the lease of ATIK Windsor.

“Sadly, this means the club has closed and our team has been made redundant.

“While we understand the impact this will have on the local late-night economy, it’s important to recognise that this decision follows an extremely difficult period for the sector.

“This includes a combination of the cost-of-living crisis hitting younger generations and students particularly hard, as well as the rising costs including the national minimum wage which particularly affects Hospitality, alongside increased business rates and many other costs of operating.”

The company thanked its guests and teams for making Atik Windsor an ‘iconic venue’ over the years.