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Oceana Kingston will remain open

Summary:

The Kingston nightclub Oceana will remain open despite its parent company closing 11 other venues in November.

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By Mansha Haurdhan

Clubbers will continue to party as Luminar Entertainment announces that Oceana Kingston will not be closing down, although the parent company closed 11 venues on Thursday 3 November.

Luminar Entertainment, the firm that owns some of the biggest clubs in the UK, including Oceana, Liquid and Lava & Ignite went into administration on Friday 28 October after losing £200million in the year up to February.

Luminar owns 75 clubs, including the Northampton Lava & Ignite, where Leisure and Tourism student Nabila Nanfuka was crushed to death on Wednesday 17th October.

The firm announced on Wednesday 26 October its banks, Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland, refused to extend loan facilities, leaving directors with no alternative but to call in administrators.

The company has a central market of 18 to 24-year-olds who were badly hit by the increased number of unemployment throughout the recession.

The smoking ban and changes to licensing laws to allow pubs to stay open past 11pm in 2005 have led to the company selling 130 of it clubs in a bid to stay afloat.

In an attempt to increase business, the company have been trying to appeal to older customers, including holding comedy nights and introducing cocktail bars near to its clubs.

It has also been holding more student nights appealing to it’s predominate audience and have embarked on a Calvin Harris tour throughout many of their venues.

Last Monday’s Halloween event at Kingston Oceana saw a successful night, with many clubbers in spooky fancy dress.

Stephen Lynn, Head of Marketing at Luminar Entertainment, said: “Oceana Kingston is our busiest venue and I can assure you it will not be closing down.

“We had to close 11 of our loss-making clubs but we have had numerous calls from potential buyers and are hopefully for the future.”

Justine Vegara, a university student and regular party-goer, said: “I’m relieved that Oceana Kingston isn’t closing because it’s one of the bigger venues.

“I can remember celebrating special events there like my birthday and exam results. I look forward to celebrating many more important nights there in the future.”

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