The Chicago Rock Café at the top of the High Street, which has stood empty since 2013, is soon to be transformed into a Cultural Hub funded by the Council’s successful bid to the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

The plan for the venue is to revitalise the area by providing performing arts classes, live performances and a food hall. To achieve this, the Council is seeking a partner who can deliver the design and running of the venue and ensure that it will be carbon neutral.

The Cultural Hub is one of several projects designed to realise the Council’s vision for an inclusive, green and attractive town centre with great shopping, eating and entertainment, alongside new community spaces, an example being the successful transformation of Market House into the Sound Lounge live music café at the bottom of the High Street.

Councillor Jayne McCoy, Deputy Leader of the Council, said : “The Council is driving the transformation of our town centre, and repurposing Chicago’s into a cultural space for the whole community is an exciting part of that.”