Work on second phase to transform former Conservative Club to start
Work on the second phase to refurbish a Victorian building – the former Conservative Club in Nuneaton town centre – will get underway this year.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is working in partnership with the charity Together For Change (TFC), a charitable venture of the Coventry Diocese, has completed the negotiations to acquire the former Conservative Club, which has been re-named Saints.
The project secured £1.8m from the Government’s Towns Fund after signing a lease in 2020 and converting the empty premises and former ‘Saints No More’ nightclub into a training café with free children’s play area and training room.
Now that the entire building on the corner of Newdegate Street has been bought by the council, the charity can move on to phase two to renovate the upstairs dance hall and balcony and create a kitchen and toilets.
Jet Jones, who leads the Saints project, and works for the diocese of Coventry as the director of regeneration and community transformation, and is also CEO of Together for Change, said renovations will begin this year.
“We are signing a long-term lease with the council and some of the funding will enable us to go ahead with the renovation of the upstairs of St George’s Hall,” she said.
“It has been mothballed for decades and used to be St George’s Hall, which hosted dances and events.
“Saints is keen to conserve the heritage of the building and there is a beautiful balcony area and a big Victorian wooden spring dance floor with a stage which will be refurbished. We need to install new heating, windows and a lift as well as re-decorate it in sympathy with the existing architecture.
“We are really excited about this next stage and we will be putting the work out to tender so we would be interested in hearing from contractors who would be happy to give a charity discount to help get the place up and running.
“We think the work will take nine months and it is my ambition for the project to be completed by the summer of 2024.”
Cllr Kris Wilson, leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said: “We are working hard to transform Nuneaton and make our borough a great place to live, work and visit. Many residents have fond memories of evenings spent at St George’s Hall. I can’t wait to see this project underway and the hall restored to its former glory.
“Great venues like this one, with strong links to the town’s past, really make a town centre come alive and will be a great addition to Nuneaton’s future.”
