£1.25m deal agreed for Mr Smith’s

A YOUTH club plan for the former Mr Smith’s nightclub in Warrington has taken a step closer after a deal was agreed to sell the building.

The Pervaiz Naviede Family Trust said it had “agreed in principle” a £1.25m sale to a mystery benefactor, which is understood to be the Vimto manufacturer Nichols.

The town’s council has also agreed to support the project a £3m donation that will go towards transforming the building into a you centre tun by the OnSide charity as one of its Youth Zones.

The former cinema was made famous in the 1980s by Pete Waterman’s Hit Man and Her TV show, but it was threatened with demolition when the Pervaiz Naviede drew up plans to redevelop the site. The trust has now agreed to commit £150,000 to the future running costs of the youth club.

Rudi Falla, spokesman for the Pervaiz Naviede Family Trust, said: “We’d always maintained that the original decision to clear the site was a last resort as we understood how the building held many happy memories for the people of Warrington. However, with renewed interest in the property and the Council’s decision to approve the funding package last night, this now paves the way for its future as a community facility.”

Cllr Jean Carter, executive board member for children and young people’s services, said: “The executive board has agreed to support the principles of this project which represents an exciting opportunity to enhance youth provision in the town. The next steps will be to consult with partners and young people to find out what they think and a report will be presented to the executive board in December.”