One of York’s most popular student clubs is set for a major overhaul, with Ziggy’s facing a comprehensive £100,000 refurbishment. The club is also changing its name to Mansion in recognition of it being located in a listed building.
The plans follow the club’s recent takeover by new owners Roll Your Dice Ltd. They say the change will create 20 new jobs – 5 full time positions and 15 part time positions. They are also aiming to expand the capacity beyond its current 500-person limit.
Manager Ed Gallagher said the new owners, recognizing the building’s potential “have taken the daring decision to invest heavily into this venue.”
He explained that the refurbishment will include a new light and sound system, and that the club will once again be open seven nights a week, “offering a wide variety of entertainment”.
“We have partnered up with some of the city’s biggest DJ’s and promoters, to bring the customers everything from frantic student nights to fantastic local talent to awesome club nights,” Gallagher added. However, it is unknown at this stage whether the club’s infamous strip nights will continue.
Student opinion so far seems divided. Vanbrugh Chair and football captain Kallum Taylor is positive to the change, stating that: “if it makes the rest of York’s nightclub’s more competitive then it can only be good for the student’s nightlife here. Their opening of the bar on Tuesday and Thursday night’s slowly caught on, and they’re untouchable on Wednesday’s, so why not?”
Ziggy’s regular Baxter Willis on the other hand, is not entirely convinced. “I think its current grim décor is student chic and adds to the charming nature of Wednesday nights. We’ve seen dozens of refurbishments at our time at York and the clubs seem to be looking more and more similar, but Ziggy’s is quirky and I think that why it’s so popular.”
“I’ll keep an open mind and give Mansion a good shot but if it ends up like every other club in York I probably won’t devote so much of my life to it as I currently do to Ziggy’s,” he concludes.
The Urban Dictionary definition of ‘Roll Your Dice’ is rather apt, methinks.