THE largest nightclub in Blackburn is to reopen next week and undergo a £100,000 transformation.

The Liquid and Envy venue, which has been closed since January 2015, will be resurrected as Nocturnal.

The club, with capacity for 1,200 people, will temporarily open for four days over Easter from Thursday and then fully open eight weeks later after a revamp.

It follows several new bars and restaurants opening up in the town in the past year.

Club boss Peter Clarke, who has 40 years in the entertainment trade, hopes the new venture, which has a 6am licence, will draw customers from across East Lancashire and beyond.

The Blackburn-raised 57-year-old plans said he will run four special taster nights over the Easter Weekend in the top floor of the former Envy club, which has room for 200 people, to ask potential customers their views on the venue's development.

James Newton, a leading member of the Blackburn’s Night Life Facebook group, thanked Mr Clarke for 'illuminating' the town.

Mr Clarke said: "I am really excited. It is the right time to come back to Blackburn which is really on the move.

"When I left in 2007, I said the town's nightlife was in decline.

"Now with new bars, restaurants and small clubs opening in the centre, I believe it is on the way back and I want Nocturnal to be part of that revival.

"The main 'Liquid' lower floor is to become a premium mainstream nightclub, over-18s on a Friday and over-21s on a Saturday with other events during the week including alcohol-free over-13s discos, cabaret and over-30s nights.

"We are not sure what we will do with the smaller Envy top floor which is one of the reasons we are opening for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday next week from 10pm to 6am to ask people what they want.

"I am also open to offers from promoters and restaurant operators but I am considering a VIP lounge with music, dancing, drinks and food.

"This is where I started my career as lighting technician at Golden Palms 40 years ago so I am delighted and excited to be coming back here.

"I want to create a premium nightclub with an entry fee not a drinking den full of some of the ruffians who used to come to Blackburn.

"Hopefully Nocturnal can be part of a major revival of the night-time economy in Blackburn and bring people to the town from right across East Lancashire and a wider area."

The club, in St Peter Street, was bought in February by property firm Abbasid Ltd which leased it to Mr Clarke, the former owner of Heaven and Hell in the Blackburn premises best known as The Cavendish Club.

It was part of a chain of similar ventures he ran across the north of England over four decades after starting his career at Golden Palms.

Abbasid director Waqar Abbassi said: "I am delighted to be bringing something back to a town I have very happy memories of and which is really on the up."

Blackburn Chamber of Trade president Tony Duckworth said: "I am delighted. This is a major boost to Blackburn which will bring in people from right across East Lancashire."

In recent months The Napier pub has reopened as a Community Interest Company, the Live Lounge on Northgate has been revived as The Loop, Tiki Monkey and The Drummers Arms have opened in King William Street along with the Cellar Bar in King Street.

New restaurants The Thyme, Turtle Bay, Nando's and Cafe Northcote have also opened.

Mr Newton said: “I wish Peter plenty of success in 'illuminating' our town."

Previous proposals to turn the building into ‘The Mill’ bar, a nightclub and restaurant announced on social media this year fell through. It was previously known as Jumpin’ Jaks, Golden Palms and The Mecca.

The former Cavendish club/Heaven and Hell premises, which has a capacity of 2,000 guests, remains empty in The Mall.