Anyone know whats happening with the old Rebels building? Its been shut for ages now, is it up for let or is it just closed for good?

I don't expect to see it return, although it was a great club in it's day. Didn't the owner close it and open Capital instead?

Originally posted by Lickszz
I don't expect to see it return, althought it was a great club in it's day. Didn't the owner close it and open Capital instead?

yup

mafia ness do tell more

Couple of old piccys of Rebels here.

http://www.billstephenson.co.uk/HARDLINES%20HTM%20PAGES/hardlines001.htm

I made enquiries about the building as part of the 'help me find a pub' thread. The roof has collapsed and the building is classed as a fire hazzard. It is available to rent, but would be tooooo expensive to do up and now in the wrong part of town.

Rebels at Revolt is the first Weds of the month at the NMB where the Classic Rock Bar DJ it.

Not only that guys but the cops won't license it as it needs a new license due to the 'deal' done with the old one!

Originally posted by Pete1024
Not only that guys but the cops won't license it as it needs a new license due to the 'deal' done with the old one!

The previous owner of the club, Steve somebody, had to move out of the venue as their licence was not going to be re-newed. The Council objected to the width of the stairs and refused to issue a renewal, so the owners had to buy another venue QUICK in order to continue business operations. Rumour has it the previous Rebels owner was a bit of a crook, so what he did in order to get his hands on Capital quickly I have no idea. We may never know: he was shot dead sometime ago now, which suggests his connections were rather dubious.

I made extensive enquiries as to buying and re-opening REBELS in 2001, under its old name. The police told me the only problems they had with the venue re licensing was the narrow stairs made it difficult to attend any emergency situation. The Police have to approve any applications for new licences and this was the ONLY thing they had a problem with. The COUNCIL also have to approve new licenses for clubs/pubs and they would not issue one due to the width of the stairs. They are now 6 inches too narrow, under new laws made in 1991. It can never be a licensed premesis again until the stairs are widened, or another entrance created.

The major problem with the Council as to why they will not issue a new license for the property is the fact there is no disabled access. By law now there has to be access to all floors for wheelchairs, so a lift would HAVE to be built, unless someway of providing a small ramp could be created from ground level, and of course rebels being on the top floor, this cannot happen. Any closed venue which tries to re-open which does NOT have wheelchair access to all public areas, is doomed! Those that still are open which dont have wheelchair access to all public areas are OK, as long as it does not close and try to re-open.

As to the condition of the roof, this was examined over the course of a whole day, both internally and externally by my surveyor, and it looks far worse than it is. The plaster is all rotten and damp in side, so when you poke it huge bits fall off. The actual concrete part of the roof is OK, but requires major replastering and drying out. This was actually not the worst cost involved to refit the venue!!

The electrics are in a fairly sorry state. the previous owner having ripped out huge sections of wiring and consumer unit fuse boxes. Sections of cable are hanging out the ceiling and it looks terrible. I had an electrician look at the place and had a quote or around £1,600 to sort out the wiring and power supply for equipment and lighting.

The toilets were all smashed up, estimated cost to make this approvable by the Council for re-licensing was in the region of £700, depending on how cheap you got the hardware. The kitchen area was gutted, requiring major refit to meet modern health and safety requirements.


the cost of knocking down the stairs and re-building them, by extending into the shop next door I looked at, but this pushed up the price considerably. I had a few quotes and this was the final nail in the coffin. We also looked at reversing the fire exit to become the main entrance, as the stairs are wider, but we had an issue with the Council as access to the balcony of the markets would be needed in order to get into the club, and the Police in principal objected to the concept of people having to Q on the balconies of the market to get into the club.

So no, rebels can never operate as a venue again without significant capital investment, and for a capacity of 500 it is just not worth the outlay. The problem with creating disabled access to public areas was also the problem with another club I wanted to buy, now CHARLES STREET. They had to fork out for a lift system there I believe, but the capital costs were not justified I thought for the freehold price of the building, which was enormous. great club though, on 3 levels.

Still looking for a pub or a club, any ideas let me know. must be freehold though else you cant make much money.

Out of interest did you intend on keeping the club the same format and were you going to use the same name?

Originally posted by Lickszz
Out of interest did you intend on keeping the club the same format and were you going to use the same name?

Yes, with permission from the previous owners. One of them was dead so it would not have mattered, but he had a brother who also had a stake in the business I believe, who may still be part owner of the old Capital night-club, whatever it is now.

The club was going to be alternative and rock, must as before, with a whole range of new nights I created. Would have been great.......

I am sure it would have been great, I certainly would have liked to see it reopen.

Originally posted by Lickszz
I am sure it would have been great, I certainly would have liked to see it reopen.

I had a massive web site all ready for it and cant find it, I have it on my machine somewhere. It was THAT serious......

Oh well, the law is the law etc. The law is an ass, etc

Originally posted by goldenfleece
I had a massive web site all ready for it and cant find it, I have it on my machine somewhere. It was THAT serious......

Oh well, the law is the law etc. The law is an ass, etc

Did you just scrap the plan altogether then? Could you not find any more suitable buildings?

looked at YORKS on Charles street which had been empty for 5 years. needed a lot of work but just as we were finalizing a deal with the freehold owners the owner of a certain well known gay club came along and pinched it at the last minute. It is now CHARLES STREET run by the same Allan Rollinson chap who used to run Planet Club I think. So we lost that venue.....

lovely club, 3 floors and a basement and so much potential for a rock club with downstairs alternative bar. That would have so cool, but would have really ****** off the Casbah, being 10 metres away.

Still looking, there are some things in the pipeline but cant say any more about this at the present. Until then, the Corporation have the rock club monopoly, and the Casbah, if u can call that a rock club in the same sense of the word.

Aslo looking for a big old city centre pub to turn into a rock bar, got a few in mind but they are really semi derelict at the moment.

Originally posted by goldenfleece
looked at YORKS on Charles street which had been empty for 5 years. needed a lot of work but just as we were finalizing a deal with the freehold owners the owner of a certain well known gay club came along and pinched it at the last minute. It is now CHARLES STREET run by the same Allan Rollinson chap who used to run Planet Club I think. So we lost that venue.....

lovely club, 3 floors and a basement and so much potential for a rock club with downstairs alternative bar. That would have so cool, but would have really ****** off the Casbah, being 10 metres away.

Still looking, there are some things in the pipeline but cant say any more about this at the present. Until then, the Corporation have the rock club monopoly, and the Casbah, if u can call that a rock club in the same sense of the word.

Aslo looking for a big old city centre pub to turn into a rock bar, got a few in mind but they are really semi derelict at the moment.

Interesting and the best of luck with your venture(s).

Goldenfleece- good luck in finding a venue. I have fond memories of rebels in the 80's. we could do with another venue like that.

Originally posted by mikey
Couple of old piccys of Rebels here.

http://www.billstephenson.co.uk/HARDLINES%20HTM%20PAGES/hardlines001.htm

Yeah and one of them is an old mate of mine who I haven't seen in years! Oh Happy Days - what fun Rebels was, didn't appreciate it at the time but I miss it now - and Roxy's on a Monday night?!

Speaking of which, where's the best places to go in Sheffield now for a good rock night out - real rock/glam stuff not the Nu Metal stuff - I've only just moved back to the area after living away so I'm pretty clueless these days ...

Any help would be appreciated!!

Luv Kazzi*

Loved the place ...

Just found a page all about rebels, has floor plans and pics etc ... here:

http://www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/pubs/rebels.html

Jamie

I lived in Rebels from about 1985 right up to the early 90's.

I also did some work on the sound system in the early 90's because I knew the mangers pretty well.

So many people I know say how much they miss the Wap and Rebels :(

Goldenfleece
Just curious but did you find anything suitable?
Went to Rebels once before it closed,would be good to have something alternative to Casbah(even though its changed I still like it)