PLANS to reinvigorate St Neots nightlife begin on Friday with the opening of the town s first dedicated nightclub. The late-night venue in South Street will be called Worx. Its owners told The Hunts Post the club will have a capacity of about 500, and wi

PLANS to reinvigorate St Neots' nightlife begin on Friday with the opening of the town's first dedicated nightclub.

The late-night venue in South Street will be called Worx. Its owners told The Hunts Post the club will have a capacity of about 500, and will be set over three levels, offering a relaxed and contemporary feel.

Located in the former Job Centre, renovation work began just over four weeks ago and is costing around £500,000.

The project is being managed by Marcus Simpson, David Taylor and Ciaran MacCana, of Ethos Entertainment Ltd, who run the nearby Kings Head pub. The trio also ran Oliver's nightclub in Huntingdon for eight weeks until they learnt that the owners had lost an appeal against a noise abatement order.

"We are not marketing Worx as a nightclub, but rather a late-night destination," Mr Simpson said. "It will be a place where people can dance with friends after the pub or get a coffee at 1am without the pressure of having to drink."

Creating 12 new jobs, the club will have an over 18s only policy and could charge up to £5 entry.

Iain Mack, general manager of Worx, said: "For the first time in the town's history a building has been renovated to serve as a nightclub. It will play RnB and dance music and I'm really looking forward to the opening."

He added that although the premise still looked like a building site when The Hunts Post was given a tour on Monday, it would be ready for its grand opening.

"Up to 30 people are working around the clock to make sure it opens on time," he said. "Most of the structural work has been done and the rest is just cosmetic."

The ground floor of the building will act as a coffee shop during the day and a chill-out space by night. On the first floor there will be a soundproof, air conditioned dance area and bar, DJ box and multi-coloured lasers. The top floor will house an exclusive VIP area for up to 60 people with its own bar and a roof terrace.

Mr Mack added: "This will be a great asset to a town of this size. If you wander around St Neots on a Saturday night you only see about 600 people and the rest are going elsewhere. This venture will bring people back to the town and give a well-needed boost to its late-night economy."

But this is not the end of the trio's plans. They revealed to The Hunts Post how they hope to give the Kings Head a facelift.

Ethos Entertainment Ltd intends to move the late-night trade of the Kings Head to Worx and transform the pub into a bar and grill with the refurbishment starting in four weeks.

Mr Simpson said: "I think if you offer quality venues than you will attract quality people. If we provide the kind of venues on offer in St Ives, Bedford and Peterborough we could keep people in St Neots and attract more trade. The town deserves this."

St Neots town councillor, Barry Chapman welcomed the new club: "It's always good to see new things opening up and St Neots needs more places for young people. I wish the club every success."

John Davies, chairman of St Neots Town Centre Initiative, said the town had seen an increase in late-night venues such as the Priory and Corner House being transformed into respectable establishments and he hoped Worx would be the same. He said: "Obviously late-night economy is good for any town but it has to be professionally managed."

Worx will have the V.I.P opening on Friday with pre-drinks at the Kings Head at 7.30pm and the grand opening at 8pm. Open to the public at 10.30pm.

INFORMATION: Worx will open Thursdays 10.30pm-2.30am, and Fridays and Saturdays 10.30pm-3am.

Contact 01480 471300. Let us know what you think about Worx by e-mailing editor@huntspost.co.uk or writing to: Worx, The Hunts Post, 30 High Street, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 3TB.