Fever Pitch — Proposal Could See Former Newport Nightclub Transformed Into Retail Unit

A former Isle of Wight nightclub could be transformed into a retail unit in a bid to make it ‘more marketable’ to tenants, amid a lack of demand for a nightime venue.

Otium Properties has submitted plans for a change of use of the vacant Fever and Boutique venue, next to Pizza Hut, at the Coppins Bridge Retail and Leisure Park.

Fever ceased trading in October last year.

The proposal is for a new commercial, business and service use (use Class E) which includes the sale of food, according to a statement from Phil Salmon Planning.

It says:

“The unit in question consists of 643.1 square metres of vacant ground floor space with pedestrian access from Coppins Bridge and South Street.

“There is no longer any demand for the unit as a nightclub and this application seeks to authorise a more flexible use enabling it to become more marketable and attractive to tenants.

“The proposal will enhance the shopping and leisure offer of the retail and leisure park itself, and in turn the town centre as a whole will become a more attractive shopping and leisure destination for retailers and leisure operators to locate.”

Before becoming Fever and Boutique, the unit was occupied by Lloyds, a Wetherspoons, and before that a Chicago Rock.

Lloyds closed not long after Man in the Moon – another Wetherspoons – opened in Newport High Street.

County Hall’s public consultation on application 25/00950/FUL finishes on September 15 and a decision is expected on October 7.