Former Majestic Dance Hall, Newport, could become flats

The large building at the bottom of Stow Hill is now mostly out of use, with only one ground floor shop and a snooker and pool club in the basement being operated.

Built around 130 years ago, it has served as a public hall, a cinema and became the Majestic Dance Hall known locally as ‘the Stick’.

MORE NEWS:

• Caerphilly drug dealer jailed over £250k cocaine stash
• Feed Newport CIC launches cultural food parcels at foodbank
• Winifred, 102, leads way in vaccination at Blaenavon care home

It later became a club known as Scamps, before developing into a nightclub in the 1980s called Le Beat and then Metro.

The building in Stow Hill. Picture: Google Maps

Following further uses as a nightclub and bar, the building was also used as an Argos Extra, and more recently it has housed the Stow Hill Market, a street food pop-up event.

But now with the building mostly empty, plans have been submitted to bring it back into use as apartments.

The proposals would see a rear extension added, and flats provided over three of the five floors.

How the building could look from the side. Picture: Chamberlain Moss King Architecture

This includes 21 one-bedroom flats and 15 two-bedroom flats, which would be managed by Newport City Homes.

The snooker and pool club would remain, along with the shop on the ground floor under the plans.

The inside of the building would be completely changed to provide flats, but the front – described as “the most historically and architecturally significant aspect” – would keep its current appearance with only minor changes.

A heritage impact statement says it is “a huge pity” that most of the building is out of use, and that without action it could fall into disrepair.

The appearance of the front of the building would be kept largely the same. Picture: Chamberlain Moss King Architecture

“It would probably be difficult to find anyone from the area which does not have a memory of time in the building or who has not at least heard of people talking about their experiences – friends, parents and grandparents,” it says.

“However, this value is slowly ebbing away as the building remains principally unused.”

The planning application says providing apartments inside “would not be the preferred option”, but that it is “one which will ensure that the building is brought back into beneficial use and once again suitably maintained”.

It says bringing the building back into use “will benefit and re-enliven the character of this part of Stow Hill”.

The plans will be assessed by Newport City Council in the coming months.