Tuxedo Royale left to rust in storage

May 10 2009 by Laura Caroe, Sunday Sun

A MAJESTIC ship that became a famous floating nightclub and a notable North attraction has been left to rust in storage.

The Tuxedo Royale, has been berthed at Middlesbrough Dock for a decade, after being run as a nightclub on the Tyne for several years.

Absolute Leisure, who own the vessel, spent £2m converting the ship into the UK’s first floating casino. The company, best known for its collection of Tyneside bars and clubs, has now gone into administration.

There is a question mark over the future of The Lounge and Cocomo’s Restaurant in Newcastle after owner Absolute Leisure was hit by the recession with its turnover falling to £5m from £9m in 2005. Gerald M Krasner, from administrator Begbies Traynor in Newcastle, said: “There is nothing about this administration that has anything to do with anything other than the crisis that has hit the leisure market.”

The Tuxedo Royale has been left in the cold while its owners attempt to decide its fate and while Tees Valley Regeneration develop the Middlehaven site.

In 1988, the Tuxedo Royale took the place of the Tuxedo Princess and Raymondo Johnson, the deputy general manager and soon to become general manager, took the Princess up to Glasgow and established it there.

He then came back and opened the Royale, after five months of refurbishment, in November, 1989. Raymondo even had a licence to marry couples on board.

But in 1999, the Tuxedo Princess returned to the Tyne and the slighter, smaller Royale went to Middlesbrough.