Housing plan for disgraced former Barnstaple nightclub
Plans have been submitted to North Devon Council to convert the old Rumours nightclub, which closed in 2021.
A new purpose has been proposed for a disgraced former nightclub in the centre of Barnstaple.
Plans have been submitted to North Devon Council to convert Rumours at 42 Boutport Street into eight flats across the three floors.
The conversion will create “affordable accommodation” either for sale or rent, planning documents say.
Rumours closed as a nightclub after it was stripped of its licence in November 2021 for breaching rules regarding crime and disorder, public nuisance, public safety and protection of children from harm.
Barnstaple Magistrates Court decided at an appeal hearing that followed that North Devon District Council had acted appropriately in revoking the licence.
Of the 19 businesses licensed in the town at the time, Rumours accounted for 41.3% of all Barnstaple Police Logs and 18.3% of crimes recorded between May 1 and December 4 2021.
The 4,500 sq ft site, next to the Horse and Groom public house, which currently includes a two-bed flat, commercial kitchen, open bar and cellar, was purchased by Adge Property Limited in June 2025 and then marketed as a commercial building but without success, despite rent concessions. It has remained empty for some time, said the applicants.
Plans include conversion of the first floor night club to four residential units, mezzanine floor to two residential units and the sub-division of the second floor flat to two residential units. One and two bed properties are proposed.
The Boutport Street elevation will remain unchanged and four new windows and two additional Velux windows are being proposed for the south-west elevation, which is not visible to the public. Kitchen extract ductwork and a door from the side will be removed.
North Devon Council will consider the plans and make a decision at a future date.