Student flats plan to replace The Charlotte music venue in Leicester
The Charlotte, which has played host to bands including Oasis, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Leicester's Kasabian, will be turned into 11 student flats if developer Deckchair Ltd gets planning permission.
Under the proposals, the bar area would be retained.
But the rest of the building – including the stage and dance area – would become flats featuring 23 bedrooms and a courtyard.
The Oxford Street venue, on the edge of the city centre, only reopened last month after closing earlier this year due to a cash crisis.
It is currently being leased on a temporary contract by a group of managers headed by Tim Sturgess.
He told the Leicester Mercury: "We did take it on on a six-month basis but we were looking to hopefully get a long-term deal.
"It would be sad for everyone, including ourselves, if it is turned into flats.
"We would like to keep it open but we've worked very closely with the current owners and it does need a lot of inward investment, which isn't viable."
The Mercury contacted a spokesman for the new owners when they took over from Punch Taverns in September.
They refused to reveal their identity or comment on plans for the building.
An application has now been submitted to Leicester City Council, although planning officials said they had not got enough information to advertise the notice yet.
Once the application is publicised, people will have three weeks to make objections.
Deckchair Ltd's agent, Landmark Planning Ltd, said the back part of the building would be demolished and an additional floor added if the proposals went ahead.
Following the Charlotte's closure in January, thousands of music fans signed petitions and joined online campaigns to keep it going.
Support for the venue grew again when it reopened and it now has almost 2,700 members signed up to its Facebook group. Band members and campaigners said they hoped to see the venue stay open.
Seb Twigden, lead singer with Autohype, who played at the relaunch night in October, said: "I think it would be a real shame because obviously the Charlotte is such a prestigious venue in Leicester.
"We played on the opening night and it was really good – we were hoping to do more nights like that."
Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said: "It would be very sad because it's certainly an iconic music venue and therefore culturally important to the city.
"There are so many student flats around. We're going to be completely swamped by flats soon."
A spokesman for the city council said any objections would be referred to the planning committee.
She said: "Because of the timescales involved this is likely to be in the new year, if necessary."
Mr Sturgess told the Mercury that gigs would go ahead as planned until their lease was up in March.
He said the new owners were helping his group find a bigger space in the city. He said: "We are close to securing an 1,800-capacity venue and we'd be looking to bring in acts currently bypassing Leicester."
Comment on this story