ACCRINGTON is set to get a new £1million cabaret club after a businessman won his fight to convert a town centre banqueting suite.

Mick Cookson, owner of Berkley Manor banqueting suite in Willow Street, has been granted permission to convert the premises into an upmarket club complex.

Mr Cookson, former owner of Burnley's Panama Joe's nightclub, paid £250,000 for the building last summer and his application to convert it into a cabaret club with restaurant and piano bar first came before licensing justices in April.

After three separate hearings and despite objections from police and other nightclub operators, Mr Cookson has been granted permission by Hyndburn licensing justices to convert the premises.

He told a hearing at Hyndburn magistrates court that his club would be more upmarket than Accrington's existing late licence premises.

He said the club, set to be called China Black Moon, would be strictly for over-25s, would serve food and cocktails and host live music.

Permission to run a cafe bar on the ground floor called Panama Joe's was granted in April and the bar is set to open next month. Mr Cookson said he intended to build a second floor within the 50ft high first floor area and provide a balcony for diners.

Lancashire Police raised objections to the plan including fears that items could be thrown from the balcony by troublemakers.

Objections were also heard from representatives of nearby Churchill's Bar and Lar-De-Dars nightclub.

Mr Cookson, of Priory Court, Burnley, said he was aware that similar enterprises in the town had failed to live up to their promise but said he was confident that his venture would succeed.

After the hearing, Mr Cookson said: "I'm over the moon. A lot of people seemed to be against it but I want to prove them wrong and make it a success. We will offer something very different to the existing late premises in Accrington and we will be investing £1million to give people in the town what they deserve."

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