A nightclub will open on Newcastle Quayside tonight.

But the 1,000 capacity Sea Club, which has a 2am licence, will open in the face of opposition from some residents.

Newcastle now attracts an estimated 80,000 revellers each weekend and the city centre boasts 160 pubs and 16 nightclubs.

Rival club owners also felt there was not the need for another club but planners and magistrates overturned their objections.

The Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1880, served as the city's fish market for more than a century before undergoing a £3.5m conversion carried out by Ultimate Leisure, of Newcastle.

Managing director Bob Senior says Sea will target the slightly older market and will alleviate many of the Quayside's problems.

Mr Senior said: "There hasn't been a new nightclub opening on the Quayside since Julie's, and that was 26 years ago. There were just four pubs in that area then, while now there are 17.

"That means when the pubs close, people either have to spend an hour having to queue for a taxi or wait ages to get into a nightclub."

However, Labour Councillor Sally Young said: "There are already enough drinking establishments on the Quayside.

"This isn't the Bigg Market and if we are seriously saying to people that this is a good place to live, we must not spoil the area."

Tonight's launch is for guests only but Sea opens to the public tomorrow.