THE restoration of one of Nuneaton’s oldest buildings will get underway in the autumn as part of a £19.4million government scheme to fund key Towns Fund projects.
St Georges Hall will be renovated after Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council submitted business cases for several Towns Fund schemes earlier this year.
It is one of eight schemes that now have business case approval from the government, including the George Eliot Visitor Centre and the Digital Skills & Innovation Centre.
Over 250 ideas for Nuneatons bid were submitted to the Town Deal Board as part of a major consultation.
The hall, now just called ‘Saints’, is a former Conservative Club that was built in the early 1900’s and was a hugely popular nightspot during the two World Wars.
It was also used as election headquarters by Conservative Party activists.
The refurbishment has been taken on by Together for Change alongside several Nunteaton Churches and Christian organisations.
The downstairs has already been converted into a learning space and cafe, with phase two including renovating the upstairs dance hall which will allow the venue to offer ‘Sport and Support’ and ‘Create and Connect’ activities.
The venue hasn’t been used since 1997 and is aiming to be open next autumn.
Together for Change CEO Jet Jones said the project would help the charity to deliver more to the community and better generate funds.
“We have renovated the former Saints nightclub into a community hub with a training café for young people, market stalls, free children’s play area and training rooms where we focus on starting enterprises and equipping people with the skills they need for life or to find work.
“We survived three lockdowns and the pandemic as a small start-up business thanks to the fantastic support of the local community, and it has been wonderful to see many churches in Nuneaton get behind this project and offer volunteer support.”
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council leader, Coun Kris Wilson added: “Saints is working so hard to reach out to people and has created something very exciting from this historic Nuneaton building, making the best of its existing features, while creating some new and imaginative opportunities, too. This is exactly what we hope to do with our town centres.”
