BLACKBURN'S self-styled 'queen of clubs' Margo Grimshaw yesterday announced she was shutting most of her night life venues because she was fed up with the over-the-top town centre drinking culture. Here, in the first of a series into the issues surrounding the subject, CAROLINE INNES talks to other club and pub managers and owners who deliver their verdict. . .

STEVE DONOV has owned a town centre club for 10 years and a town centre bar for four.

He was furious at Margo Grimshaw's views which appeared in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph yesterday.

Steve, who runs Barzooka and Jazzy Kex, said: "My bar has been opened for the last four years and in all that time the police have never been called because they have never been needed.

"There are a lot of people who come out for a quiet drink, to meet friends and just have a good time.

"Of course you get the odd person who is looking for trouble but they are in the minority and in my opinion Blackburn is still a safe town to go out in at night.

"There are those of us who do not want to be tarred with the brush that Margo is using."

Margo , who owns The Castle, C'est La Vie and Never Never Land in Market Street, and Mr G's in Fleming Square, is planning to replace her town centre venues with shops and apartments, after becoming disillusioned with the town's nightlife and licensing laws which she believes encourage irresponsible drinking.

However at least one of the clubs will be sold as a business and reappear at a new venue.

Peter Clarke, who has just purchased the old Utopia site to turn into his seventh Heaven and Hell nightclub, said: "I've known of Margo for many years. She has been a great operator and very loyal to the town.

"I do feel she has a point regarding binge drinking, as this is something the licensed industry needs to sort out as a whole, but don't feel this is focused on Blackburn specifically.

"I read her column in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and think it's great as she talks a lot of common sense. I feel she would be great to go into local government.

"We are still really excited about opening Heaven & Hell in Blackburn and believe it will be a great asset to the town."

Lee Beckett -- with fellow DJs -- launched a monthly dance night in Blackburn last year called Mish Mash in a bid to provide something away from the binge-drinking culture. He said: "I don't think what Margo said is that far away from the truth.

"If you go out in city centres, like a lot of my mates do, you tend to find a lot more going on and people keep themselves to themselves.

"It's not like that in places like Blackburn, where a lot of people binge drink and there are fights.

"The emphasis of Mish Mash is on the music, and people appreciate that. It isn't about drinking until you can't stand up and I think that is why it has been a success for us."

Another town centre bar manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said that compared to other towns he has worked in Blackburn is a relatively safe place to drink and one that is extremely well policed.

"I agree with some of Margo's comments but the industry as a whole is very responsible. We have withdrawn all special promotions and stopped our happy hour to encourage sensible drinking. We do serve people who seem to be drunk."