Former nightclub set to face bulldozers
Demolition work has started on what was once one of Hull's best-known nightspots.
Contractors have started stripping out the derelict Lexington Avenue club on Ferensway ahead of the bulldozers moving in.
The city centre venue started life as the Locarno ballroom in the early-1960s.
Originally hosting big jazz bands, it later embraced pop and rock groups, attracting diverse acts such as Jethro Tull and The Sweet.
A name change to Tiffany's in the 1970s coincided with the disco revolution and another change in musical direction.
In the late 1980s the name changed again after a fresh makeover, this time to Lexington Avenue or LA's, as it become universally known.
The good times finally came to end four years ago when the venue closed after its owners went into receivership.
The building was bought by Hull City Council two years ago as part of long-term plans to develop the site.
It applied for £4.2m of Lottery funding to help to build a £8m youth centre on the site, which was unsuccessful.
The Youth Interchange would open seven days a week, including holidays, and offer a late-night "safe haven" for youngsters.
Since the bid was rejected, the future of the site has become unclear.
A council spokesman said the decision to demolish the former club had been taken for a number of reasons.
"The former LA's building is a council-owned property and it is being demolished to minimise occupancy costs and deter further vandalism from occurring,'' he said.
"Medium to long-term plans for the site may include council re-development or development and sale to a private investor.
"In the meantime, we will be looking at short term usage for the site, such as car parking," he added.
*Do you have memories or photographs of the former nightclub? If so, email news@mailnewsmedia.co.uk.
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by Reuninon man, The club
Saturday, July 04 2009, 11:28AM
“ANYONE WANT TO SEE ANY PHOTO'S OF THE CLUB'S DEMOLITION GOTO FACBOOK & TYPE THIS IN
" LA'S HULL (Lexington Ave Night Club now demolished) "”
by Mr D. LUX ( the cosovan), A LUXURY APARTMENT IN HULL
Thursday, July 02 2009, 11:24AM
“I'm glad the 'AVE' is being pulled down, the state of it was an embarressment to the city, i remember when it got its current makeover in around 92/93! If it ain't broke don't fix it, but even if it is still broke don't fix it , should be Hull's motto!
Personally i think the space should be used for something useful in these financially difficult times, how about some more 'LUXURY' APARTMENTS? maybe they could be still called LA's in homage......LUXURY AVENUE.”
by Julief, Anlaby
Monday, June 29 2009, 5:06PM
“I remember it opening and going to the under 16 Saturday morning "bop" sessions.
Met my husband there when I was 18 in 1966 just after England won the World Cup. Very happy memories.”
by lorraine, London
Monday, June 08 2009, 8:55PM
“sorry I didn't think my first comment had gone on! I always did go on a bit”
by lorraine, London
Monday, June 08 2009, 8:49PM
“For me personally its looking at the end of an era, my first time in there was when it was Tiffanys and upstairs was Annabellas, Mike Prince was the dj at the time he was sooooo hansome I was only 15 so it was 1980 and by 1986 I was working there when it opened as Lexington Avenue I started on the bar and for some strange reason I ended up doing the lights on the dj stand for a while, I wasn't very good at it but I think they thought I was eye candy! that didn't last long as I wanted to be back behind the bar, I also did some promotional work for them. the the rise and fall of the club In my oppinion was Sandra Wray, she was amazing and ran the club with her eyes closed and when she left it was never the same, what a lovely lady I miss her very much as we lost touch when she left but if your reading this Sandra I would love to hear from you, Even though I left Hull in 1990 I would always go in and see Sandra. my favorite night has always been grab a granny night on a wed even when I was early 20's. I noticed someone commented on the chap in the white suit! he was always there infact I think its what kept him going, If anyone reading this that worked there when I did I would love to hear from you my name was Lorraine Netherton then. my e-mail is lorraineoakley@hotmail.co.uk they may knock the building down but the memories are safe.”
by lorraine Oakley, London area
Monday, June 08 2009, 8:29PM
“For me personally its the end of an era, I was there at the re-opening when it became Lexington Avenue in 1986 and untill I left Hull in 1990 I had some amazing times both through working there and nights out, I started there as a barmaid and found myself with the dj in a swimsuit doing the lights! happy days then I went from the bar to doing the promotions, the making of Lexington Avenue was a wonderfull lady called Sandra Wray she had that club running beautifully.... and then she left and it went down if anyone out there knows were she is please give her my love and my e-mail address lorraineoakley@hotmail.co.uk and anyone else I worked with and had fab times with a big hello to you all my name then was Lorraine Netherton.”
by alexis, hull
Sunday, June 07 2009, 11:34AM
“I had soo many fantastic nights out in LA's. I went for my very first experience of clubbing for my 16th birthday and never looked back. I ended up goin in every weekend, the very last skool daze was the best nite in there for a long time. Me and all my firends are very sad to see it go xxx RIP lA's XXX”
by Athornintheside, Hull
Saturday, May 16 2009, 8:06AM
“Stephen as usual a misinformed pile of dogs do do enough said. Perhaps not the warren gets almost million off the council. Just to quote one of your misinformed comments I will not use the words lies, because I believe anyone can find the truth if they look hard enough.”
by Jo, Hull
Friday, May 15 2009, 10:38AM
“I still can't believe they are pulling it down. Had I won the lottery I would have bought, refurbished and re-opened it. There is a large Facebook following for "Re-Open LA's". Nightlife in Hull is nothing now compared to the excitement of the highlight of your night out - going to LA's and dancing the night away on that huge dancefloor. Personally I am not a fan of these lots-of-little-rooms clubs we have these days. RIP LA's... or can someone please buy it!!!”
by 24 yr old, hull
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 3:10PM
“WELL I FOR ONE LOVED lA'S AND CIRCUS CIRCUS 5-6 YEARS AGO WENT IN THERE EVERT FRI/SAT NIGHT. SHAME IT CLOSED, THE OLD TOWN BROUGHT THAT DOWN AN EVENTUALLY THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WENT IN WAS COSOVANS......”