Many a messy night out in Southampton has ended in Jesters. Between its signature ‘Jesticle’ drink (which has its own Urban Dictionary entry), and the legendary four-corners challenge which allegedly saw students try to, well, perform a different illicit activity in each corner of the dancefloor, in its in its 35 year-long life Jesters became a verified Soton icon. In fact, the club’s infamy is such that it reaches far beyond the southern city – it regularly features in articles about the ‘worst clubs in the country’.
Despite its rep, or perhaps specifically because of it, the club is beloved by locals and visitors. A fundraiser set up to try and save Jesters from impending bankruptcy described it as ‘more than a club’, concluding ‘it is a part of Southampton’s DNA’.
Southampton student Ben, who holds a ‘Jesters Gold Card’ which he earned by staying in the club for more than eight consecutive hours ‘mainly because it was funny’, affirmed its legendary status, telling Time Out: ‘Southampton will be that much dimmer without the Jesters dance floor... it will will live on in our hearts’.
All that glory, however, has finally burned out. After attempting to raise £200,000 following a repossession notice, Jesters went up for sale a few days ago, hailing the end of an era. There is some good news though: it could be yours for only £1.7 million.
You may think nearly £2 million for a less than gorgeous nightclub is pretty steep, but for that price you also get the attached Clowns wine bar, and an 11 bed, 11 bath student house ready and waiting to be rented out. The living quarters above the venue is the real money maker, with the Rightmove listing estimating it could bring in as much as £100,000 in rent. Not too shabby at all.
On top of that, you’d get to bring Jesters back from the dead, which is the sort of value money can’t buy. Or, you could strip it and turn it into a much more respectable, but much more boring, nightclub. The choice is in the hands of whoever coughs up the cash.
Here’s what could be a final look at Jesters as you may never have seen it before: in broad daylight.
And here’s the 11 bed HMO that could be yours.
You can have a look at the full listing on Rightmove here.
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