Preston nightclub reopening as multi-use live music venue following lock-down

Switch in Market Street will host a launch event from 10pm to 3am.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said bowling alleys, skating rinks, and casinos can reopen from Saturday, August 1. But current laws say that nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques, indoor play areas, including soft-play areas, and sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars must remain shut for the foreseeable future due to social distancing concerns.

But a Switch spokesperson says the business is able to reopen this weekend according to Government rules because it will operate as a multi-use venue rather than as a nightclub.

They added: "The facts remain that Switch’s licensing activities allow us to open and move our operation towards a live music venue as we are licensed for performance of live music, along with lots more licensed activities, allowing us to open from August 1 based on the current guidance.

"We will only open when we know we are safe to do so, with a range of risk-assessed measures based on the guidance of live music venues.

"That is why we are working with the council to make sure we can deliver a live music operation as safely as possible.

"We already operate as a multi-use venue. Yes, we run club events but we also run and have run over the past three years of operation a range of weekly top 20 live artists, comedy events, band nights and other live events."

In a Facebook post last Saturday, a Switch spokesperson said that people can only enter the launch event if they have already bought an online ticket, to ensure social distancing.

Its website states that customers must also arrive at designated times to help ease queues, and that there will be several one-way systems around the venue, including at the bars, toilets and the outside smoking area.

It adds that all four rooms will be opened to allow space for social distancing and that it is operating a designated cleaning team. Signs offering clear hygiene and social distancing guidance will also be displayed outside, at queue lines, on the club's TV system and around the venue.

Bosses then plan to resume club nights Quids Fridays and Switch Live Saturdays, including live performances from artists and DJs every week.