Sidmouth’s only nightclub won’t become a Wetherspoons

Sidmouth’s only nightclub Carinas will not become a Wetherspoons, franchise bosses have said.

Following an announcement revealing the permanent closure of the venue on Thursday rumours arose that the popular pub chain was looking at buying the premises in Fore Street.

After being contacted by the Herald, a Wetherspoons spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are not looking at Carinas in Sidmouth to convert into a Wetherspoon pub.”

Following the shock closure, club owners Residential Trust Ltd unveiled plans which looked to turn the venue into an all-in-one restaurant and bar.

Carinas was originally closed at the end of January for a refurbishment that was set to last eight weeks. During this time, part of the premises was going to be converted into a bar and restaurant while the remaining section of the club, which was more than half the existing floorspace, was supposed to undergo much-needed improvements.

Following the closure, Residential Trust Ltd’s director Chris Eccles said: “The reality is that there has been insufficient real support in the form of customers spending money on a regular basis in the club and the existing business model is not sustainable.”

He added that they would be immediately applying for planning permission to convert the rest of the building into a feature bar and restaurant and were looking forward to substantially upgrading the Dove Lane frontage which faces Market Place and re-instating part of the original glass domed winter garden roof.

Read our previous stories here: Breaking - Sidmouth’s Sole Nightclub Carinas Closes PermanentlyPermanently closed Sidmouth nightclub to become all-in-one bar and restaurant