The return of Saltcoats’ premiere nightclub is closer than ever after the new owners were granted a provisional premises licence.
Metro Reloaded Ltd, the company behind the renovations of the former popular nightspot on Hamilton Street, had its application for the granting of a licence considered by North Ayrshire Council on Monday.
The application, sought under Section 45, was for a provisional licence which can be made despite the premises not being ready.
A spokesperson for the club told the Herald: “We have the biggest licensed premises capacity in Ayrshire. Other nightclubs don’t hold the potential numbers we can hold.”
The meeting lasted over two hours, with the club’s owners asked to explain how it would benefit the community.
The Metro’s application was successful on the condition that it operated with regular pub hours, closing at 1am.
But the former Regal Cinema, famous across the nation, will not open until coronavirus restrictions have passed, said the owners.
They want COVID-19 to have passed so that the club can open and welcome people without restrictions on numbers or the need for people to wear masks.
The owners told the Herald that the grand opening is dependent on the virus passing.
Once the doors open, it will be the first time in over nine years revellers will be able to enjoy a night in the Metro, it having closed down in 2011.
Work is underway to fully refurbish the building, with extensive repairs to roof necessary.
A spokesperson told the Herald: "Now you'll start to see a difference. We'll be painting out the front and the canopy will be coming down.
"Roofers are coming to sort out the flat area of the roof."
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