A FINAL farewell to much-loved Newport music venue, TJ’s, is set to be held next week.

The club closed following the death of owner, John Sicolo, in March last year and was left in the hands of administrators for several months.

Mr Sicolo’s daughter, Leanne Jones, tried to take over the venue, which she said was being “left to rot” and she organising an exhibition of TJ’s memorabilia in John Frost Square as part of Newport’s Empty Shops Project.

Ms Jones is now having to face the fact that the club cannot be saved and is giving people a chance to bid a fond farewell with a final gig.

She said: “The past year has been an emotional rollercoaster. Losing my dad was bad enough, then the club and then whether we were going to get it back. I’ve done my best, but I just have to leave it now.

“The exhibition has got to come to an end and I decided it would be a good time to have a final farewell to a much-loved club in Newport.”

The farewell event will be held in the exhibition on John Frost Square on February 5 starting at 6pm.

Ms Jones said there will be live bands and people will be able to get together and share their memories of TJ’s, which saw early performances from the likes of Green Day, Oasis and the Manic Street Preachers.

She said: “It’s quite upsetting and sad really, but it will give people a last chance to come in a look around. I just want people to have one final look at what the club was.”

For more information on the event, contact Ms Jones on 07795076376.