AN HISTORIC Leigh night club which played a part in The Beatles success could be transformed into an upmarket all day cafe and bar.

Changes are on the cards for the town's biggest ex-theatre, cinema, dance hall and club which closed down as Ruebens nitespot in October last year.

Langar Properties, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, are planning to bring the 19th century building into the 21st century by creating a "chameleon-type" operation.

They have applied to Wigan planners to change the use of the Lord Street/Silk Street club from a nightclub to a cafe/bar and add windows to the exterior.

Company director Mike Moss explained that the development is in the early planning stages but it is hoped to create a scene that like a chameleon changes throughout the day with the premises serving coffee in the morning, lunches at mid-day and becoming a bar in the evening.

Mike said: "In terms of design, the whole premises will have an expensive fit out, one that will go down well with the people of Leigh.

"We are aware of the building's history and believe this is the way forward."

The former Theatre Royal which was built in 1884 and opened the following year had 1,400 seats and was used by travelling companies. It was also known as De Castro's Theatre of Varieties after the owner Mr J Williams who was also known as De Castro.

In 1909 the management changed and the music hall became a cinema until 1954 when it was converted to a night club.

The Casino changed to Reubens after it was sold by the Brierley family and despite efforts to make it rock again it closed down last year.

It's biggest claim to fame was when fans thronged to see The Beatles on February 25, 1963.

While there, producer George Martin and his team produced the mono and stereo masters of the 'Please Please Me' album at EMI in London while the world's most successful ever group was in a van heading for a performance at the Cas!