THE ASSEMBLY in Leamington is reopening its doors – and residents are delighted.
The Spencer Street venue’s new owners – who are from Leamington but want to remain anonymous – took over running the grade 2 listed property last week, and on Saturday September 28 will re-open with a launch night – three months after it appeared the end for the venue.
And people took to social media to celebrate the news.
Comments included: “Great news. Brilliant venue that brings people into Leamington.”
Another said: “Can’t wait for it to be reopened. Even before it closed it felt under utilised – such a fantastic venue.”
One supporter wrote: “Fantastic, so happy to see this wonderful venue coming back to life.”
Bookings have already started being taken at the venue, which will offer live music, events and club nights, while next door The Zephyr Lounge will be reopened for smaller shows and local band nights.
A spokesman for the new operators told the Observer: “The Assembly is an iconic site for live music. The same family have owned the building for the last 87 years and to keep it under the same guise – previously being the setting for balls and dances and now a music venue – is very rare and amazing. There aren’t many places like that.”
Previous owners MJR Group shut the doors in June, citing financial difficulties due to the rents and rates of the property.
Shortly after its closure, pictures were sent to The Observer of damage done to the inside of the building by ‘overzealous contractors’.
But when the new owners arrived they said it had been tidied up – and short of a clean-up, they have not had to do much else.
The spokesman added: “It’s such a beautiful building, and grade 2 listed, that we do not want to do much to it. You don’t get places like this anymore.”
And Warwick District Council is supporting the reopening of the building.
A spokeswoman said: “We warmly welcome the reopening of the Assembly and are very pleased it has been fully restored and will be brought back into use as a popular town centre venue.”
Big-name acts who have previously played there include Lou Reed, Public Enemy, The Stranglers, New York Dolls and Patti Smith.
The 1,000 capacity art deco venue – which was built in 1926 – was the subject of a multi-million pound redevelopment designed by Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen.
To keep updated with upcoming events, search for ‘Assembly Leamington’ on Facebook.
