A NIGHT CLUB has received national recognition for its work to reduce alcohol-related incidents and provide a safe place for customers.

Bosses at The Roxy, in Market Street, Darwen, have also listened to customers' wishes by reverting to its original name and carrying out a refurbishment.

The former Privilege nightclub was renamed The Roxy after 200 customers urged a return to the name it was best known as in the 1980s.

Now it has come runner-up in a national safety competition and is aiming to win the award next year.

The Roxy was nominated for a BEDA (Bar Entertainment and Dance Association) Shine Award, presented at Birmingham's NEC Arena, which recognises social responsibility with regard to retailing alcohol on a large scale.

Owner Reg Gorton said: "The key to my success in Darwen has been ensuring my customers are safe. Now as an active member of the Bar U scheme, we have really begun to lay down the law to customers who don't behave.

"With the help of police and the council, we have dramatically reduced the number of incidents relating to alcohol within the town centre. Customers, staff and all other licensees are happier to drink and work in a controlled environment.

"It was an honour to be nominated for the Shine award which allows individuals to prove themselves as responsible retailers, and maybe next year we could go on to win."

The club originally opened as The Roxy in 1988. Mr Gorton has run clubs in the town for 25 years, starting with the 21 Club in Anchor Road followed by Kazy's Bar, now known as Java.

The Roxy is one of several establishments in Darwen involved in the Bar U campaign, which links the premises by radio and enables bosses to work together to ban known troublemakers from the bars and clubs involved.

PC Shelley Lancett, Darwen town centre officer, said: "Mr Gorton has played a massive part and attends all the meetings. He and Java manager Julia Bracewell are both very good and help run schemes to train staff in dealing with problem customers.

"They've helped to cut down on alcohol-related incidents and have been very helpful and co-operative."