HERE'S a New Year offer you don't see every day -- spend the night of December 31 in the company of Che Guevara.

But while Che's presence will be limited to a massive picture on the wall, plenty of spirits of the more pleasant variety will be on offer at Funktion's Red and Black Ball.

Held at Preston's swanky Revolution bar, the ball is set to be the event for Lancashire's cream of the cream to been seen at on New Year's Eve.

Starring on the night will be Da Mentalistz, the duo who are also among Feel's residents.

They will be occupying level one of Revolution.

Although the Funktion name is still in its infancy, it is already making big inroads into the glamorous end of the market, regularly bringing together trendy clubbers wherever they choose to base themselves for the evening.

On NYE expect to hear the chunkiest, funkiest house from 2002 as well as some of the big tunes of 2003.

Funktion's Jodie Finch will also be spinning the tunes.

Upstairs, in what has been dubbed The Penthouse for the night, is the oasis of calm and tranquillity for clubbers who want to kick back a bit -- ideal if you want to escape the madness of the dancefloor.

Revolution itself is the sort of place where you will have a New Year to remember.

Big on vodka -- make that very big on vodka -- it has the feel of the sort of place which just shuts out the real world and makes its own environment.

It has a sense of being a semi-secret place, and its location -- on the fantastically-named Main Spirt Weind -- just adds to that

A big log fire at one end, and a collection of super-strong foreign lagers -- many of which come with lime -- it is a great break from the humdrum regular bars about town this Christmas.

Having said that, another bar worth checking out if you want to make NYE a multi-stopper in Preston is Indigo, in Winckley Street, Preston.

It oozes the super-cool vibe which normally belongs in the city, but has a relaxed atmosphere as well.

Revolution opens its doors at 7pm on NYE, and is open until 1am.

It has a dress code of red and black and it will be an all-ticket event.

Those tickets cost £6 and includes a complementary shot.

Tickets can be ordered from 01257 411741. Well worth it in our opinion!