Hamilton's Next Door Bar management have announced their LGBT nightclub has ‘the green light' to reopen on Friday 18th May, following sucessful negotiations with Hamilton City Council. After 15 successful years serving the Waikato community, Council told owner Clive Brooker last October the bar and sex-on-site venue was not safe, and would not let it remain open. Brooker has now carried out the many necessary structural, electrical and plumbing repairs required. Major renovations to the 16-year-old venue have not yet taken place, says the Next Door Bar's Mark Richardson. “The last seven frustrating months have just been about getting the front door open,” he explains. “For now, Next Door is much as it was, so take advantage of the opportunity to see it, because by the end of the year it will be unrecognisable. A full refurbishment of the premises is about to begin, including an upstairs area for the bar, and the reconstruction of the old 10 High Sauna into... we're not telling yet - watch this space.” Plans are being drawn up, and once a building consent is through - which takes a few weeks once the plans are complete - the works will begin in earnest, continues Richardson. “So for now, Next Door is pretty much as it always was - with one or two adjustments we hope our partygoers will like.” An official ‘re-opening party' is planned for a weekend in the near future. Starting Friday 18 May, the Next Door Bar on 10 High Street, Frankton, Hamilton will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm until 3am. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)