WORK will begin on Monday on an expensive refurbishment of a popular night spot, badly damaged in a blaze 10 months ago.

The owner of Martholme Grange, Altham, has been waiting for the insurance pay-out - believed to be more than £250,000 - before going ahead with the facelift.

Duncan Adamson, who took over the club's parent company, Blentford Ltd, four days before the fire last September, said the work marked the start of big plans for the former manor house. He said: "There will be a full refurbishment of the pub and restaurant. It will be unrecognisable.

"We also intend to push ahead with plans to create a leisure centre and hotel at the site and will submit a planning application."

The refurbishment work is expected to be finished by August. The bar and restaurant were left extensively damaged when arsonists broke in and set fire to the premises. The nightclub at the rear of the building was not affected

The club has been closed for most of the 10 months except when it re-opened at Christmas to honour pre-booked parties.

The ambitious £750,000 redevelopment plans were unveiled by the previous owners. Among proposals are a 46-bedroom hotel, leisure club, swimming pool and two restaurants.

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