Arriba, Arriba! Welcome to Motel Mexicana …

The sounds and spirit of South America are set to spice up the city when a new venue opens in Newcastle next week.

Motel Mexicana – at the former Bijoux nightclub site at Mosley Street – is dedicated to all things Latino, with entertainment, food and drink and, ultimately, accommodation.

And its owners have announced its £500,000 first phase will officially open to the public on Saturday, 30 March, with those who sign up as Motel Members able to enjoy a sneak preview a day earlier, on Good Friday.

The venue, which will open seven days a week, will offer a Mexican-inspired food and drink menu alongside a daily, changing line up of entertainment, from live music to a weekly quiz on Mondays.

Tuesdays will be devoted to tacos at discount prices to the backing of an authentic, live mariachi band and the venue’s team of chefs also plan to introduce a signature Brunch El Presidente dish later in April.

The opening is part of a phased development and the second phase will see the third floor turned into a motel, with one large, multiple occupancy bedroom – again with the same Latin style.

This can be booked by large groups wanting to host a special celebration, while the fourth floor will become a roof terrace, with plans to install a retractable glass roof to create a versatile, all-weather indoor / outdoor space.

Masterminding the creation of Motel Mexicana are Nigel Holliday and Matt Smyth who are also behind one of Newcastle’s most successful clubs – Tup Tup Palace.

The pair, who are also partners in the North East’s biggest scare park, Psycho Path, joined forces with Andrew McGuigan of world renowned advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, to create Motel Mexicana.

Matt and Andrew’s wives, who are from Spain and Columbia respectively, are also involved, ensuring that every aspect of Motel Mexicana is authentically Latin.

And Nigel – also one of the partners behind Newcastle festive pop-up Moosenwirt - said the team is “really excited” to unveil the first phase of Motel Mexicana to the public.

“From the outset we wanted to create a fun venue with lots of live music, great food and drinks,” he said, “that would appeal to both a young and older crowd.

Motel Mexicana will be open daily and its first floor - with its own bar, toilets, DJ stand, stage and TV / AV facilities – is also available for private hire between Monday and Friday and on Sundays until 4pm.

For further information and to sign up as a Motel Member visit www.motelmexicana.co.uk.