Have any plans for Asylum this weekend? Plan no more. The popular nightclub officially closed its doors on Tuesday after 12 years of night-time entertainment.

It may come as a surprise to many, but Brian 'Ribbie' Chung, principal of Nite Time Promotions, said the move was inevitable and major plans are being put in place for a new venture.

"As with all great nightclubs, each has a life cycle," he said.

According to Chung, the closure will allow the club's management to take advantage of new opportunities, based on the growing entertainment industry.

"We have analysed the market and will definitely take advantage of the wonderful opportunities presently in Jamaica," Chung said.

He brushed aside speculations that the decision to close was due to the emergence of new nightclubs such as Fiction and Pure. "Asylum and Quad are still and will be the kings of night-time entertainment. Fiction and Pure has not dented anything. They are smaller clubs and cater to a different environment," he said.

surpassed successes

Nite Time Promotions has been around for 16 years and began with Cactus nightclub in Portmore, which was a favourite spot between 1992-2000. However, Chung believes Asylum easily surpassed the successes Cactus had.

"Cactus did eight years for Nite Time Promotions and its successor, Asylum, surpassed that. Asylum did 12 years and I think the time has come," he said. All of Chung's attention will now be focussed on the Quad, which is in its sixth year.

Chung declined to state whether the space which housed Asylum is owned by Nite Time Promotions or was leased.

As for the Asylum employees, Chung said some would be transferred to Quad while others would be re-employed when the new entertainment spot is opened later this year.

"With what we are coming with, there will still be work, but some will move on and some will be transferred to Quad," he added.

In a press release, the managerial staff offered its gratitude for the support the club has received over the years.

The statement read: "We wish to thank our extremely loyal patrons, staff, promoters, sponsors and all other partners that have shared the journey and the dream with us over the last 12 years."

Chung was reluctant to give an exact date of when the next entertainment spot would be launched but promised that it would be bigger and better.

"Now that we are closed, we are going to take enough time to structure our approach for our next move. But for now it will be a venue (to be opened) for the winter," he said.

'Now that we are closed, we are going to take enough time to structure our approach for our next move. But for now it will be a venue (to be opened) for the winter.'