A DREAM of opening their own nightclub has come true for a group of clubbing fanatics from Accrington.
Club Eclectic finally opened to the public at the weekend, amid a blaze of publicity.
It is the culmination of months of hard work for friends Kristan Dewell, Cath, Rob and Gaelle Graham and Adam McEvoy. And the Observer received a special invitation to join in the celebrations at a glitzy VIP preview night last Thursday.
The club is situated inside the former Lar-de-dars nightspot, in Willow Street, Accrington.
It has been given a £75,000 facelift by the five pals, who hope to help put the town on the clubbing map.
Cath, 27, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, said: "We have wanted to do this for ages and eventually we just thought why not, let's just go for it.
"We've been working round the clock to get the place ready. But it has been worth it because we want to give the public something different."
Despite interest in the venue - last open as the Eclipse nightclub - from groups including pub giants Wetherspoons, the huge building has lain empty for the past two years. Its new owners set up their own business, Party on Lancs Ltd, and struck a deal with the building's owners, Preston-based Ramm-designs, to take over the lease for a year.
Cath, a nursery nurse by day, said: "It's just the same old places in town we want to make sure people have more of a choice."
The group have all mucked in to transform the look of the club and are now hoping the Accrington public will check it out.
Cath added: "We have lots of exciting plans. We want to cater for all tastes. We're trying various music nights and want to put on an over-30s night, an R 'n' B night, a dance night and party tunes on Sunday.
"We'd love to make it a success as there is a lot of history to this place. Many couples met here in its heyday so we'd like to continue that on."
The club also has a cocktail bar, two bar areas and a fun-packed games area. Plans are also in the pipeline to open a bistro where hungry clubbers can snap up a selection of fast food.
