Plans are underway to replace recently closed Atik nightclub with a new live music venue and offices as part of the council's vision to 'revitalise' the West End of Oxford. 

The owners of Cantay House are considering options for a new live music venue to replace the Atik Nightclub, which closed its doors for the final time on Saturday, June 22.

The owners of Atik Night Club, Neos, were told they had to vacate the premises by June 30.

A spokesperson on behalf of Atik Oxford said: “It is extremely regrettable that despite our best efforts negotiating with the landlord, they have decided to take back the lease to pursue other plans for the venue and we have been forced to close.

"The first we knew about the closure was when we received the notice from the landlord via mail.

"We did not want to close Atik Oxford and remain committed to finding a venue in the city.”

The club was a favourite among students from University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University.

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Development advisers Elwood Fund Management are preparing plans to restore the late 19th century warehouse building on Park End Street, which would include a ground floor music venue, bar and café, with new office space on the upper floors.

The plans aim to support the council’s vision to revitalise the West End of the city and the key gateway route from the rail station into the city centre.

Russell Black, head of asset management at Elwood said: "While we have not been able to keep the Atik Club at Cantay House, we do recognise the important contribution music venues make to the vibrancy of the city and the legacy this location has to the city’s club and music scene.

"With this in mind we are actively exploring how we can keep a music venue at Cantay House. 

Atik Nightclub  (Image: Oxford Mail)

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"Over the coming weeks and months, we will be working with the council and reaching out to people in the local music scene to explore how we can establish a new successful music space at Cantay House."

Ideas under consideration for the venue could be a flexible space incorporating a café and bar that could accommodate a range of different size music events.

Atik was rumoured to be closing its doors earlier this year, following the closure of several other branches across the UK.

In February, Peter Marks, the chairman of Rekom UK, former owner of Atik, announced the closure of 17 venues with the loss of 500 jobs.

Mr Marks, the boss of Atik and Pryzm clubs, said students hit by the cost of living crisis were cutting back on clubbing.

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According to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), close to 400 clubs permanently shut down between March 2020 and December 2023.

The NTIA said this equated to 10 closures per month, equating to two per week.

Pryzm clubs in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Watford are among those to have shut in 2024, along with Atik nightclubs in Dartford, Romford, Windsor and Wrexham.