Almighty makeover for Heaven Hell

Heaven & Hell owner Matt Ralm (front), with his new management team in July, is temporarily shutting down the nightclub. Photo / File

Rotorua nightclub Heaven & Hell is to close for at least eight weeks with plans to relaunch with a new look and a new name.

The Arawa St club will close after a final party on Saturday along with the Royale Lounge sushi and cocktail bar next door.

Rotorua businessman Matt Ralm took over both venues in July - the first hospitality venture for the Mobil Te Ngae owner.

At the time he expressed a desire to turn the Heaven & Hell brand into an international franchise, but after three months testing the waters there's been a re-think.

Mr Ralm admitted the last few months had been challenging, including a frustrating delay in obtaining a full liquor licence.

"It's been a tough winter for everyone," he said, adding five bars had closed in Rotorua over the past nine months.

"It's been a good kick up the pants for me," he said. "If I had no other means of money coming in then I'd be struggling."

However, Mr Ralm remains determined to make a success of the venues and said it was about finding a point of difference to other Rotorua bars.

"What market am I going after? Is it sports, the young people... how do I get people spending money?"

Mr Ralm said he had been working in the club for the past four weeks, gaining a better understanding of what was going on.

He said Heaven & Hell would be closed for eight weeks - "it could be longer" - before relaunching with a new name.

Heaven & Hell was opened by Pato Alvarez and Brendon Gilbert in 2012 on the site of the old Grumpy Mole, which closed in 2011.

Since then it's brought musical acts to Rotorua.

In recent weeks the club has hosted the Miss V8 Supermodel Search NZ, which was won by local woman Nicole Harvey.

The Royal Lounge will also close and will relaunch as a gastro bar, Mr Ralm said.