Last orders have been called on Newcastle ’s former floating nightclub the Tuxedo Royale as dismantling work gets under way.
Once the pinnacle of glitz and glamour for the city’s nightlife, the now derelict party boat has been left to rust on the River Tees in Middlesbrough since 2009.
The Tuxedo Royale was left without a legal owner when its then owner went into administration, and the boat was earmarked for demolition by Middlesbrough Council in October last year.
The authority is working with offshore demolition company Able UK, and work was initially expected to start within weeks of the announcement.
Now, dismantling of the Tuxedo Royale has begun and Able UK’s business development director Neil Etherington said it is the inevitable conclusion to what he described as a long and sorry saga.
He said: “Working with agencies including Middlesbrough Council, the Environment Agency and the Port Authority, we have been seeking a solution to the fate of the Tuxedo Royale for a long time.
“From our point of view it has been an expensive process, it has taken up valuable quay space and we have received no payments for its storage.
“At the same time it has become an ever-deteriorating eyesore which has certainly not enhanced the area’s profile – quite the reverse.
“Well-intentioned enthusiasts have, of course, made valiant efforts to save the vessel but this has provided too big an ask, with dismantling and removal the only viable option.
“Now we have the necessary permissions and support, we are in a position to begin the dismantling process and hopefully the work will be completed before summer.”
Pictures taken on Wednesday show work is now under way to dismantle the derelict rusting boat near the Transporter Bridge.
The vessel was once a major attraction under the Tyne Bridge, where its revolving dance floor and celebrity clientele made it one of Newcastle’s star attractions.
Its sister ship, Tuxedo Princess, also served as a nightclub and stood on the Tyne until 2008, when it was taken to Turkey and scrapped.
Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough deputy mayor and executive member for city centre strategy, said: “The Tuxedo Royale has been deteriorating for a considerable period of time and is now both an eyesore and a potential hazard.
“Unfortunately no viable plans have been put forward to move and restore the vessel, so it is now time to dismantle and remove what remains of it.
“We are pleased to be able to work with Able UK to resolve the issue and see this as another positive step in the ambitious plans we have for Middlehaven.”
The former party boat was gutted by flames on May 31, which left smoke billowing across the Transporter Bridge.
Nobody was injured in the blaze and Cleveland Police subsequently launched an arson investigation.