ONE of Hull's greatest music venues could be set to reopen after the building was sold freehold before auction.
The Lamp in Norfolk Street was a popular nightspot in the city before it was forced to close in June last year due to slow trade.
Owner Gavin Brennan, who ran the venue for six years, said it was no longer "financially viable" and he had no choice but to call it a day and lock up for good.
A number of businesspeople showed interest in the 4,321sq ft venue and it was set to go up for auction at Beverley Racecourse.
However, it was cancelled when someone came in last minute and a deal was struck between the buyer and commercial real estate company Colliers International.
It had a guide price of between £65,000 and £75,000, although Colliers cannot disclose how much it was finally sold for.
Fans of the venue on Twitter have been hoping someone would snap it up this summer.
One tweet read: "Let's all chip in our pocket money and get The Lamp back open."
Peter Melling, of Chartered Surveyors Black Cat Services in South Cave, visited the property in June and said it was "amazing" how quickly it had deteriorated in such a short space of time.
A lot of work is needed to be done to get it back to its best but Mikey Scott, who runs Fruit Trade Music recording studio in Humber Street, feels it would be worth it to turn it back into a place for live music.
He said: "The Lamp was a brilliant venue and I went to many gigs there as a teenager and played a lot of gigs when I started out in bands.
"It's also good for parties and has a nice bar and stage.
"People loved playing gigs at The Lamp and I was annoyed when concerts were on and I couldn't go.
"When it closed, it was a great disappointed for the people of Hull, especially ahead of our City of Culture Bid for 2017."
Mikey said he would like to see the venue welcome younger gig-goers who are desperate for somewhere to watch live bands.
He said: "Back when I was a teenager, I went with so many of my friends to gigs but people are worried about young people getting drunk watching bands.
"If it was done properly with the right security in place, it could be really good because there isn't really anywhere for them to go.
"So many venues have shut in Hull, including Hollywood and Vine in Beverley Road.
"Ringside and Adelphi sometimes struggle but people still want to go to gigs and The Lamp could be a success if music fans really got behind it."
Although the new owner of The Lamp remains a mystery, promoters are already queuing up to put gigs on.
Mikey said: "I would be very interested in speaking to whoever is taking it over and a monthly night for local talent who come in my studio would be fantastic."
THE Lamp was once a popular venue where a number of national acts played.
The Arctic Monkeys attended an after-party there and local bands such as Streaming Lights, Affairs and Tourist Information were among those last to perform at the music venue.
Since it closed, a lot of the acts and promoters have moved to the likes of Ringside in Beverley Road and Piper in Newland Avenue.
The Lamp was listed as a nightclub from 1995 until 1996 when it became more of a pub where local gigs were held.
It was once a police station and named The Jailhouse.
• Do you have any old photographs of gigs at The Lamp from years gone by? Post them on our Facebook page or on Twitter.
