THE new owners of Mr Smith's say they are committed to returning it to its hey day when it re-opens as Synergy next month.

Radio One DJ Dave Pearce has been lined-up to play at the club on Saturday, March 22, with fellow big name Rob Kazinski playing the night before.

And owners Nexum Leisure, which gave the Warrington Guardian a sneak preview ahead of its scheduled March 14 re-launch, say no expense is being spared.

"We are spending a total of £5.5m," said launch manager, Paul Cowen.

"The lighting rigs coming in are the type used by Take That on tour and we're spending £600,000 on lighting and sound alone.

"We know what this place once meant to people in Warrington and what it did in its hey day and now we have got to bring that into modern times."

Nexum bought the building after spotting an opportunity to add to its portfolio of 15 nightclubs across the UK, which includes its flagship superclub Syndicate' in Blackpool.

Work began in December and is progressing well, with the one main room being split into a large and small one.

"This is the key thing in attracting people from aged 18 to 45," Mr Cowen said.

"It allows to offer more choice while keeping that big room' experience."

Nexum plans to hold various nights throughout the week aimed at different audiences with different musical tastes, including students, as well as a traditional Saturday night of headline DJs.

"We want to be a bit more commericial and mainstream than our club in Blackpool," Mr Cowen added.

"Someone like Judge Jules is probably right on the line of where we will go.

"We also want to find up and coming acts, whoever the next Girls Aloud are, and put them on."

Promoters are hoping to hire a big name celebrity with local connections for the opening night.

Several old props and features found in the building from when it was Mr Smith's and before that, a cinema, may be auctioned off for charity.

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