New venues aim to put Blackburn back on clubbing map

11:37am Friday 19th March 2010

By Jemma Humphreys

BLACKBURN’S clubbing scene is set to receive a makeover as two new party venues are launched — cranking up the volume on the town’s nightlife.

This weekend sees the debut for Club Essential, in Church Street, which will open its doors to clubbers on Friday and Saturday evenings from 10pm until late.

On the other side of town, party boy Calum Best and N-Trance’s Kelly Llorenna will be in Blackburn on Easter weekend to launch the first of a new regular Saturday dance event, called Rise, being held at King George’s Hall.

The club nights will join existing late-night venues including 41 King Street, Live Lounge, The Residence, North Bar, and Liquid & Envy, in a bid to put Blackburn back on the clubbing map.

In recent years other nearby towns such as Burnley have become the more popular choice for a night out but the organisers behind these two new ventures hope to help attract clubbers back into Blackburn.

The owners of the former Snug Club closed the venue late last year after club-goers were said to be put off by its restrictive door policy.

Now Club Essential is to reopen with a new image under the management of Great Harwood promoters Jamie Harvey and Dan Gardner who hosted the successful Loaded New Year’s Eve parties at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors.

“We will be putting the party back into the Blackburn clubbing scene,” said Jamie, 27.

"Good dance music, a great atmosphere and affordable drinks are what the Blackburn people want.”

The club venue will be open on a Friday and Saturday night from 10.30pm and there will be free room hire for private parties.

Incentives are also being launched for group bookings and tailor-made packages will be on offer for girls' nights out.

At King George’s Hall, Rise will see big name DJs coming to Blackburn on Easter Saturday for the first of what is hoped will become a monthly dance event.

DJs will play a mixture of dance house and trance favourites until 3am with dancers, light shows and competition giveaways.

Calum Best will be joined by 15 Yum Yum Models, as seen in FHM and Loaded magazines, and there will be live performances from chart toppers Kelly Llorenna and Dream Frequency.

Rise organiser DJ Rob Holden, of Shifty Promotions, is keen to reignite the dance/house scene that was at its peak in Blackburn in the 1990s.

“When I used to go down town in the ’90s it was booming,” said the Blackburn-born DJ, who has played all over Europe.

“But I came back at Christmas and it was so very dismal. And I decided something had to be done.

“We have gone for an upmarket venue, which has never been used for an ongoing dance event.

"We feel we have created a night with a vast scope with something for everybody to enjoy,” he said.

Jamie Harvey added: “The Club Essential website gives customers the option to download special drinks offers and discounted entry passes before they arrive at the venue, really making it easy for people to save money and still have a great night out.”

l To get your name on the guest list for Club Essential’s launch party tomorrow night contact info@essentialblackburn.com.

Tickets for Rise at King George’s Hall, Blackburn, on April 3 contact 08448 471 664 or 01254 200 129. Tickets are £20 and are only available in advance.