THE Comedy Store could be coming to York's Barbican Centre following privatisation.

The proposed new centre operators, Absolute Leisure, revealed today that it intended holding Comedy Store evenings twice a week in the refurbished auditorium.

It said the famous brand, which had been responsible for launching big names such as French and Saunders and Julian Clary, would attract headline entertainers to complement the Barbican's established calendar of events.

The North-East based company has released artist's impressions of what the centre will look like if planning permission is granted for the refurbishment, and for the construction of a large new lounge bar, a new hotel, apartments and a community swimming pool.

It stressed the auditorium will keep its existing 1,500 capacity for larger events and concerts, but will also be used for seminars, conferences and dances as well as smaller concerts and local events.

Managing director Tony Knox said: "At present there are about 80 events a year taking place at the Barbican and we intend to build on that and bring more acts and bigger names in."

The Comedy Store would play to an audience of between 400 and 600 in a reduced size auditorium, said a spokeswoman.

Updated: 10:43 Thursday, March 04, 2004