PLANNING chiefs have approved a scheme to turn the former Palace Theatre building into an 'Entertainment Cafe'.

The Friars Gate building has been used as a cinema and a bingo hall in recent years by leaseholders Apollo Leisure. Many people campaigned to see the building returned to its original use, but Apollo said it would not be commercially viable.

The council has granted Apollo 'sui generis' - which means only one of its kind - use of the building. This enables the group to use it as a concert venue, restaurant and dance hall, but also permits it to revert back to a bingo hall.

The venue will provide 80 full and part time jobs including four management positions. The proposed refurbishments and structural changes will cost £2 million.

Clr Celia Jordan said: "People would have liked to see a theatre retained here and do not want more licensed premises in the town centre."

But she accepted the town centre could not support a full-time theatre and urged the owners to offer entertainment which would appeal "to a much wider audience".

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