A Brighton cabaret which closed suddenly – twice – is set to reopen under completely new management.
Haus of Cabaret, run by Alex Proud, was shuttered up in January after the new owner put up notices announcing it was kicking out the operator for not paying rent.
Mr Proud briefly took back the venue in St George’s Road and announced new shows – but these were cancelled and the premises closed down by the fire service in March.
Now, the freeholder Tokyo Industries has leased it to cabaret promoters Luke Shaw and Josh Gomez, who are planning to relaunch the venue as Madam Lola’s at the end of next month.
They have pledged to run the cabaret with “respect, transparency and properly paid talent”.
Shows will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, with tickets sold for 120 seated guests. Drag brunches with unlimited prosecco for 90 minutes take place on Saturday afternoons.
Luke Shaw has worked as an aerial acrobat and production director and has worked for companies and event including Forgotten Circus, the Brit Awards and the Isle of Wight Festival.
Josh Gomez has worked for Cirque Le Soir, The Box Soho and Virgin Voyages.
Mr Shaw said: “The best nights out are the ones where you’re not entirely sure what’s going to happen next.
“That’s what we’ve built here. Madam Lola’s isn’t about standing around with a drink, it’s about being pulled into something.
“If you leave with a story, we’ve done it right.”
By the time Haus of Cabaret closed its doors for the final time, a string of former employees had won employment tribunal rulings ordering the operator West End Galleries to pay oustanding wages.
Trading Standards is also investigating complaints from customers who bought tickets for shows cancelled at the last minute.
The venue finally closed after East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service issued a prohibition notice on 13 March banning any use of the premises except to make repairs.
This was on the basis of a lack of fire detection and warning, and a lack of emergency lighting to the escape routes.
It required the responsible person to either reinstate the existing systems or provide new ones.
Madam Lola’s says when it took over the venue, it had been in a “neglected state for some time”.
It says it has worked closely with the fire service and all systems have been completed and signed off, adding: “Safety and compliance have been a non-negotiable priority throughout.”
The fire service website shows the notice was lifted on 22 April.
The venue reopens on 29 May. Tickets are on sale here.
