Eagle-eyed passers-by will have noticed an intriguing new frontage on a Newcastle building.
The former Bijoux night club is currently adorned with bright and colourful imagery and symbols along with the cryptic message “good things are coming.”
It may all be happening behind closed doors at present, but not for much longer as Easter weekend will see the launch of Motel Mexicana, bringing together everything that is fabulous about Latin food, drink and music.
The credentials of the team who are behind this new Mosley Street venue are impeccable.
Nigel Holliday and Matt Smyth are co owners of one of Tyneside’s most celebrated clubs, Tup Tup Palace, Psycho Path, the award-winning scare attraction, and many projects within the hospitality sector. And they have joined forces with Andrew McGuigan, formerly of world renowned advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, who has relocated to the North East.
And they are using all of their expertise to create a new kind of venue, which will transport guests from Columbia to Venezuela, from Mexico to Spain – in fact virtually every Latin – influenced country on the planet is being tapped for inspiration.
The group took over Bijoux, which had been empty for around nine months and are currently hard at work, transforming the four floors into something very special.
Nigel said that the aim was “to create a venue which would be exciting and fun with lots of live music, great food and drinks” aimed at attracting both a young and older crowd.
Although there’ll be an exciting range of drinks and cocktails on offer, not surprisingly tequila will feature heavily.
“First it was gin and then it was rum and now tequila is definitely the next big thing,” said Nigel.
“There’s lots of celebrities who have created their own brands – everyone from George Clooney to Kendall Jenner – and we are going to reflect that huge amount of interest in the spirit.”
“We are going all out to create a really brilliant Latin vibe, bringing in influences from across South America as well as Mexico and Spain,” he said.
Matt and Andrew’s wives, who are from Spain and Columbia respectively, are also involved, ensuring that every aspect of Motel Mexicana is authentically Latin.
The initial plan is for the venue to be open from 4pm until late Sunday to Friday and then from noon until late on Saturdays.
The second phase will see the third floor turned into a motel, with one large, multiple occupancy bedroom – again with the same Latin style – which can be booked for large groups.
The fourth floor will become a roof top garden bar with plans to install a retractable glass roof and which will make it a perfect outdoor space.
“It’s something really new for Newcastle and we have brought all of our joint experience in creating places and events with the wow factor to Motel Mexicana,” said Nigel