Newark is set to have a new late-night venue before Christmas. 
It will also open during the daytime as a coffee bar A premises licence was granted on Monday for Jola Entertainment Ltd, which plans to re-open the former Gusto s premises on Cartergate.
Jola Jola will be able to sell alcohol, play music and host live music and dance performances until 1.30am from Sunday to Wednesday and until 2am on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, bank holidays and special occasions. The venue would close half an hour after last orders. Work to convert the premises is due to start in the coming weeks. It will also open during the daytime, from 9am, as a coffee bar. The licence was granted by Newark and Sherwood District Council s licensing committee at a hearing at Kelham Hall. Town councillors in Newark had objected to the proposed nightclub, despite Nottinghamshire Police withdrawing its opposition. Fears over potential noise and anti-social behaviour, and a lack of a nearby taxi rank were among concerns previously raised by town councillors. Mr Michael Kheng, representing Jola, questioned why no one from Newark Town Council was at the hearing to argue their case. He told the licensing committee that the venue previously had a premises licence with 51 conditions attached.
He said the applicant decided to apply for a new licence rather than going through the costly process of re-instating the expired licence. The police agreed that the 51 conditions were now irrelevant and needed changing, Mr Kheng said. We entered extensive negotiations with the police to get a new licence and they were happy that the application goes ahead. He said they had satisfied the police and environmental health experts. Members of the licensing committee agreed unanimously to approve the licence. Chairman Mrs Rita Crowe said that because Nottinghamshire Police had withdrawn its objections the committee was satisfied with the application. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Jonathan Swift, director of Jola Entertainment Ltd, said: Newark needs a new club because we need to keep people in the town.
Hopefully we will be good ambassadors for Newark s night-time economy.
Mr Swift said people from Lincoln and Nottingham used to visit Newark to go clubbing and he hoped those days could return.