'WE'RE not closing" is the message being thundered by Newcastle City Hall manager Peter Brennan after he was forced to reassure Tyneside world rock star Mark Knopfler that it wouldn't be the last time he played there.

Mr Brennan is calling a press conference on June 23 to try and end constant rumours that the 78-year-old Newcastle City Council-owned venue can no longer compete with the newer concert halls being created on Tyneside.

He said: "The worst thing at the moment is trying to counter these flaming Chinese whispers all the time that the City Hall is going to close.

"Let's put it this way. I had to have a conversation with Mark Knopfler recently because his manager, who I've known for 25 or 30 years, said 'well he's doing this because it's the last time he'll be able to play it'. I said 'you what' and he said 'well, the city hall's closing isn't it? That's what Mark's been told'," said Brennan.

But when the manager tried to find out where the story had come from the rumour was put down to "somebody told Mark" and Brennan commented: "If I find the bugger who started this rumour I'll shoot the so and so.

"I'm more or less saying all the time 'oh and by the way we're not closing' it's hard work sometimes."

Speculation started about the 2,000-seater City Hall's future when the similar-sized The Sage began to take shape at Gateshead.

Mr Brennan said: "People got it in their minds that once The Sage opened we would close, but that didn't happen"

He also blames plans to create a 50-metre swimming pool using the old baths site next-door as creating confusion and that the plan to turn the former Gala Bingo Hall nearby into a massive music concert area had also started rumours.

He said: "People didn't understand that we weren't selling, we just had to give the City Hall a market value as part of the pool bid procedure which is slightly different.

"Then we heard that the Carling Academy is opening a 2,000 standing only venue in the autumn which everyone thinks will take all the business from us. No it won't, but it might take all the business off Northumbria University.

"All the time I'm having to counter what is happening. Well I've got bookings through to 2007-8 and got a commitment from the council that we're staying open and see how we go."