Derelict Preston nightclub to re-open as shops

Developers have applied for a change of use for the derelict building in Tithebarn Street, once home to late night drinking venues including The Piper, Barristers, Lord Byron’s, Storm and Club Arena.

The single storey property, which already has shop premises on either end and a car park on the flat roof, will be converted to into a total of seven retail units.

The application has been submitted to Preston City Council by Wansfell Limited of London’s Mayfair. The company wants to redevelop the vacant nightclub (pictured), splitting it into five shops.

The units will all look out onto the western concourse of the city’s bus station which is being developed into a state of the art youth zone and public open space.

The nightclub, which started life as The Piper in the sixties, has been closed for several years.

In its heyday The Piper attracted big audiences for its cabaret nights. It was where Cannon and Ball first performed and where fans of pop singer PJ Proby thought they were being duped when a bearded slimmed-down version of the American turned up for an appearance. One evening Giles Brandreth was the warm-up act for controversial comic Bernard Manning.

The club changed its identity several times, but was raided by drug squad officers as Storm in 1992 and was shut down inn 2008 as Club Arena after gun was discharged into the ceiling.