Historic pub The Egypt Cottage goes down the tubes

Aug 9 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

TIME has been called on yet another famous Tyneside boozer.

Campaigners are desperate to keep The Egypt Cottage in Newcastle’s City Road open, even though it has been earmarked for demolition along with the adjoining former Tyne Tees TV studio.

But the Sunday Sun has learned the entire site could be razed by the end of the year after owners Buccleuch Property revealed they are losing tens of thousands of pounds every month on the site.

Sandy Smith, development director at Edinburgh-based Buccleuch Property, said they hoped to have the appropriate demolition licences before Christmas.

He said: “We are sorry a bit of history is going, but a new piece of history will be created there.

“Tens of thousands of pounds are being lost every month by us trying to keep it open for people to use.

“It is part of a larger site Newcastle City Council want to see redeveloped to create jobs and regenerate the area, so it is a good thing for the city in terms of plans.”

The plans have been met with outrage by regulars, nearby residents and many of the celebrities who frequented the popular watering hole during filming for The Tube in the 1980s.

Fronted by Jools Holland, Paula Yates, Leslie Ash and Muriel Gray, The Tube beamed live from studio five from 1982 to 1987 and showcased a raft of bands from the Tina Turner and U2 to INXS and Culture Club.

The Egypt Cottage became something of a “green room” for stars appearing on the show.

But Mr Smith said those days are now long gone and finding replacement tenants has proved fruitless.

He said: “Tyne Tees TV is no longer there and we’ve worked hard to get others into the site, but no one wants to use to . . . we have even offered it rent free, so all they have to worry about is rates and bills.

“It’s simply costing us more to run than we are getting back.