Mokai on Church Street, the building housing it is due to be sold

The owner of a nightclub on Church Street has joined calls for greater investment in the area.

Chermaine Hewitt, who runs the recently refurbished Mokai club, added her voice to the building’s owner Parvis Shasvar.

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Shasvar has put the building on the market saying the state of the Church Street area is “killing businesses“.

Hewitt backed his comments but believes the future is looking up for the city centre.

Mokai, which was formerly Rumes, opened in September and Hewitt is keen to stress the building being on the market does not affect her business.

She said: “I just want to make it clear the business won’t be affected.

“All events advertised are still continuing and our team are fully aware of the situation.

“Unfortunately it’s still hard out there for businesses and landlords and Parvis has been nothing but amazing with our company and plans since we took the lease.”

Foam party at Mokai during opening week

Hewitt said the investment planned for the Bus Station and work due to begin on the Queen Street retail park should help boost their end of the city.

She said: “As for our end of Church street there is no denying it needs help. I have had meetings with the council and promising steps are being made to improve our end and listen to what the business owners of that end of Church Street want.

“With the investment to the bus station, the new retail park and other plans that are to come into play our end of church street will eventually flourish.

“The down side Is the wait for the investment and beginning the growth and facelift that end of town. However as the saying goes Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Leader of the city council, councillor Peter Rankin, said: “It is difficult to take any more than one step at a time with city centre regeneration. We’re well underway now with the markets, cinema and post office building and Church Street is next.

“The Queen Street retail development at the back of Church Street will help and it’s planned to extend the public realm improvements all the way down Church Street, although the first phase is only going down as far as Church Row and then across to the Bus Station. That is about one-third of Church Street. There are a number of listed buildings along the street and improvements to the environment will assist their redevelopment.

“There is probably scope for more housing just off the streets round Stoneygate as identified in the new city centre plan.”

The building has been put on the market for £400,000, but Shasvar said he bought it for more than £700,000 in 2008.

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