The front page of The Newcastle Herald this morning revealed that the owners of The Cambridge Hotel have listed the building for sale for the first time in 25 years – complete with concept plans for a new skyscraper capable of housing 153 apartments.
The venue is an indelible part of Newcastle’s live music landscape. Throughout the years it has held host to thousands of gigs; from Silverchair launching their album Frogstomp, to international appearances from Blink 182, The Black Keys, and Misfits.
The news would come as a shock to anyone, if anything The Cambridge Hotel has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the past year. The new renovations included an expansion of the main band room, with a state-of-the-art PA system to boot. In the coming months they have secured acts like Bliss N Eso, Grinspoon, Less Than Jake, Frenzal Rhomb, and Pete Murray.
The sideroom also received a healthy makeover and has been growing it’s reputation as a professional room for local acts. It currently stands as one of Newcastle’s best rooms – perfect for a local bands EP launch, or an emerging touring artist. Just last month we saw Split Feed pack it out for their final show, and this weekend Rachel Maria Cox is launching their new single ‘Emotionally Untidy’.
Co-owner John Palmieri spoke to The Newcastle Herald, saying that he anticipates the pub will be re-developed, with apartments being built above the hotel. With news across the country of live music venues shutting their doors after being troubled with noise complaints – this seems far from an equitable solution.
The loss of The Cambridge Hotel would do serious damage to the city of Newcastle. It’s reputation as a live music venue and icon of the town’s landscape proceeds itself. The amount of touring bands coming through the city, a city which already is left off too many tour posters, will drop. Bar On The Hill would have the chance to come close, but Newcastle doesn’t have a room that could patch the whole that The Cambo would leave.
The Cambridge Hotel took to Facebook this morning to help clear the air. Saying “from where we stand, we have six years remaining on our lease and have no intentions of going anywhere anytime soon.”
UPDATE
The Cambridge Hotel have taken to their Facebook page to assure people that despite the Herald’s report, they plan to continue the party for many many years to come. See below.
You can read the Herald post online here.
