NIGHTCLUB bosses are promising a spectacular opening night at a venue that is undergoing a glitzy £160,000 transformation.

The Star revealed last week how a consortium of local businessmen have secured a lease for the former Nexus club, on Westfield Street, St Helens.

Workmen were operating around the clock this week to ensure the 1,700 capacity venue, named Club Rouge, is ready for opening this Friday (December 18).

Stilt walkers and fire eaters will be among special entertainment to mark the launch night which will feature Radio City DJ Lee Butler.

Chris Capper, Club Rouge general manager, said: “We opened a Club Rouge Facebook group last week and already there is 2,000 members signed up.

“So there’s a lot of interest and we’re hoping for a big turn out on the last Friday before Christmas, which has become known as ‘mad Friday’.”

Local businessmen Tony Innelli and Khalid Nabi are part of the Club Rouge consortium.

They want to ensure there is a ‘clean break’ from Nexus, which was closed down after its reputation was battered by allegations of alcohol-fuelled violence and underage drinking.

Mr Innelli, 55, owner of St Helens-based Apollo taxis, said: “We want to take it away from the Nexus feel – what we don’t want is people saying ‘it is still Nexus’ – I know that won’t happen because a lot of money is being spent here.

“We are hoping are for really big things here and hope it will become a premier nightspot in the North West.”

Mr Nabi, 38, whose family own a St Helens restaurant, says the new club, which is creating more than 40 jobs, will give a boost to the town’s economy.

He told the Star: “It will have a knock-on effect of bringing more people into town for nights out, which boosts the taxi trade, while if people are planning nights out they will go to shops.

Club bosses have pledged door staff will challenge anyone who appears aged under 25 to show identification.

Hi-tech equipment will also be used to scan IDs which will register who has gone into the premises.