A CITY nightclub which once hosted the likes of Pink Floyd, AC/DC and New Order is to get a new lease of life.

The Gig nightclub in Lothian Road, formerly known as the Caley Palais and latterly Century 2000 and Revolution, has been bought by the MAMA Group.

The company is behind London venues such as the Hammersmith Apollo and The Borderline, and it is hoped the new owners will be able to attract the sort of acts who once graced the venue's stage.

Closed since Janaury 2007, the building will be redeveloped as a 1500 capacity live music venue.

The refurbishment of the venue is being handled by Archie McIntosh, director of the firm Venue Management Services Live.

He said: "This venue has so much potential it's difficult to imagine how Edinburgh has survived without it. The city has missed out on so much good music. Tours have bypassed Edinburgh because there simply has not been a venue of this size to go to.

"There is such a rich heritage here as well, so much character and a wealth of history. The reopening will bring it back to where it belongs as a real destination for the best bands in the world."

London-based MAMA, which also runs the Jazz Cafe and gay Club G-A-Y, has bought the freehold for the Edinburgh venue from former owners Luminar Leisure.

They hope to reopen the venue later in the year, with a new name yet to be decided.

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Venue revamp plans unveiled

DETAILED plans have been released for the redevelopment of a well-known city nightspot.

The Gig venue on Lothian Road, which has been closed for over a year, is to be transformed by the owners behind some of Britain's best known live music venues.

The Evening News reported earlier this month how Gig – which has operated under several names in the past, including the Revolution nightclub and the Caley Palais – is to be renovated.

It has now been revealed that the Mama Group, which also owns the Barfly chain and the Hammersmith Apollo in London, will spend around £3.5 million buying the 1500-capacity venue.

Mama Group hopes to turn the building into Edinburgh's premier live music venue, going directly into competition with The Corn Exchange and the Queen's Hall.

Source: Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday, 15th March, 2008

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