A FORMER Basingstoke nightclub is set to be transformed into a performance venue to host live music acts.

A company called Stage has revealed that it is planning to refurbish the former nightclub in Churchill Way, which has been vacant for two years.

The venue was previously occupied by Liquid and then Wonderland, which closed in January 2014.

Stage is expected to hold 1,500 people, and is set to create around 50 new jobs for local people.

Adam Hornblow, from PSL Limited – a Basingstoke based company which hires sound and light equipment and transforms venues – came up with the idea of turning the former club into a performance venue.

He told The Gazette: “A large proportion of the venue will be unrecognisable.”

The company launched a website and Facebook page and has been teasing social media users for weeks as to where the venue will be.

It listed a ‘booking agenda’ with acts including Little Mix, The Who, Maroon 5 and Muse.

But Facebook users were sceptical about such big-name bands performing in the town.

Stage responded to say: “Perhaps someone knows them personally and can do something special. I’ll have to keep those details off the radar but let’s just say, Muse are a possibility.”

Adam said he was still in talks with acts to perform at the opening weekend.

He added: “We are all local people who know how to make it work. We have gathered a lot of information and research on what people want and how to achieve it in the best possible way.

"It will be a completely different experience in terms of other venues in the town. It’s not a nightclub, and it won’t be run as a nightclub. It’s all about performance. There will be things for children and older people, it will be cross genre.”

Adam said the venue will include a large festival style stage and tickets will be sold prior to an event, ranging in price from £10 to £100, depending on the act performing.

He emphasised that the venue will focus on live performance, adding: “To stand and listen to music in a sweaty dark hole is a thing of the past. People don’t want to do it anymore. The reason it’s not a nightclub is because nightclubs don’t work. People want to spend money on proper performance and entertainment.”

He also hopes to involve local bands and musicians who will perform as support acts.