CLITHEROE Grand is set to re-open with a special party next month.

The venue was forced to close 14 months ago when the country was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Boosted by the award of a government Cultural Recovery grant of over £260,000, the fund will enable The Grand to restart many of its regular activities closed during the nationwide health emergency, as restrictions continue to lift.

The Grand’s executive director Steven Lancaster said: “We are excited to relaunch a number of creative classes and begin to welcome our visitors and partners back to the venue very soon.

“We are planning for a number of indoor events and also looking forward to being part of a summer season of outdoor projects and festivals.

“We are delighted and incredibly grateful to receive this substantial investment and endorsement from the Government in recognition of the service to our community and the creative arts industry.

“The pandemic has had a devastating impact upon The Grand and our industry.

“This grant will be a significant help in relaunching the organisation and we look forward to opening our theatre soon.”

The Grand’s re-opening party will be streamed to an on-line audience as well as welcoming 80 guests to the York Street theatre on Saturday June 12.

Headline act The Ragamuffins found fame in 2019 when their charity single, Si Senor, a tribute to Liverpool’s Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino, was played at the Champions League final in Madrid when Liverpool lifted the trophy in the Spanish capital.

The Grand has staged a run of pilot events at the venue, including a successful on-line festival in partnership with the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club.

Grand spokesman Dave Thornber said: “We will be coming back gently in the first few weeks, focusing on re-gathering the community of the Grand – and re-starting our creative classes including Be My Band and Ella Shaw’s Academy of Arts.

“It was fantastic to have live music back in the Grand.

“It was also brilliant to welcome back the local jazz community when the venue staged the on-line Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Festival over the May Day weekend.

He adds: “Initially, audiences will still need to be limited and require a level of social distancing.

“It will give us chance to manage the event safely and take on board guidance laid down by the authorities.”

There’s a real treat for music and cinema buffs next month when film director, DJ and musician Don Letts visits the Grand to talk about his remarkable career on Thursday, June 24.

Letts was at the heart of the 70s punk revolution and has continued to be a creative force for the past four decades, producing a host of films, music and documentaries.

Two live shows are scheduled in July, with the Nimmo Brothers on July 13, which will be the first standing show at the Grand.

Three days later international jazz harpist Alina Bzhezhinska will present the Hip Harp Collective in partnership with the Ribble Valley Jazz Club.

The Grand is also working with the Altered Scale Theatre, to bring two days of children’s theatre to local primary schools’ classes (July 8 and 9)

Providing the nationwide opening continues as planned, the Grand has several rescheduled dates in the autumn including Think Floyd (18 September), Fleetwood Bac (November 21), An evening with Henry Marsh, neurosurgeon (November 24) and Red Hot Chilli Pipers (November 27).