A NEW bar and live music venue is set to open in Selby next month.

Transformation of the former Greens Furnishings shop in Ousegate into the new, 300-capacity The Venue, is almost complete, ahead of a soft opening in coming weeks.

The Venue is run by Ian Wright, who also runs The Riverside bar and music venue two doors up from the site, and said it would bring a new location to attract bigger bands and more to Selby.

Ian said: "All events will move to the new venue and that's going to be more of a location for a wider programme of events, from blues, acoustic, to Mod, Ska, punk and rock, right across the board to appeal to more people. We'll also do other events such as boxing tournaments with a local club, and theatre productions.

"It's going to be quite unique as it's got a stage and there's not really anywhere else other than the town hall that can put on events we can run, so hopefully it will become a flagship venue in the town."

The site has a 450 square metre floorspace, with a permanent stage and bar, offices, a games and "chillout" area, storage rooms, and new male, female and disabled toilets with a shower room, offering facilities the Riverside could not.

In June, plans for thirteen new three storey homes which backed onto the River Ouse were submitted to the council, which would mean the street had buildings and developments on both sides of the road for the first time.

Ian said the opening of The Venue did not mean the end of the Riverside, which holds roughly 200 people, as he said he hoped to keep the venue open for private hire.

The Venue's official opening is set to take place in October.

For more information on upcoming events, go to the facebook page, or phone 01757 700756.