Iconic nightclub venue to reopen as '˜Switch'

It was a place where thousands of Prestonians met their future husbands and wives, but Cameo and Vinyl in Market Street - formerly known as Squires - is set to become ‘Switch’.

The club closed in October last year with the shock news prompting many to recall memories in the venue which first opened in 1967.

But on Wednesday, new owners Darren Ofsarnie, 30, Haydn Price, 26, and Francis Falodun, 29, picked up the keys to Lime House.

The trio, who have ran club promotions company Future UNI in Preston since 2008, will open the new ‘tri scene’ venue in August this year.

Darren Ofsarnie, company director said: “We couldn’t turn down the opportunity of taking on such an iconic venue after its closure last year.

“One of my first DJ sets took place at this venue, and for many years run successful night time events at both Squires and Cameo.

“Switch will fill the void left in the Preston nightlife scene when Cameo closed last year.

Darren Ofsarnie and Haydn Price with the keys to their new nightclub Switch

“Myself and the team are truly excited to launch this brand new clubbing experience this August 2017 with an amazing launch weekend.”

The new club will feature three rooms dedicated to different music genres with state of the art sound, lighting, video and special effects.

What was ‘Squires’ will become ‘Pure’ playing funky, tech and disco house music.

‘Pop’ will replace what was ‘Vinyl’ and ‘New York New York’ continuing to play 90s and 00s chart and party music.

And the lounge which separated the two rooms will now be transformed into ‘Bass’ - with exclusively R&B, hip-hop and garage music.

The new owners say Switch will target an 18 plus clubbing market with frequent live celebrity appearances and guest DJs.

The venue underwent a £250,000 revamp to become Cameo and Vinyl in 2014 but is set to receive another face-lift before opening.

The trio believe the new club will “compliment the up and coming regeneration of Preston city centre”.

They were referring to plans to build a cinema and new restaurants on the site of the indoor markets close to the venue.

There are also plans to build a new £3m market hall by 2018 as part of the third phase of redeveloping the markets quarter.