Excitement is building in Wantage as the town's only nightclub is set to reopen this summer under a new name.

Social media pages advertising a new Delaney's Club coming to the town this summer have appeared on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The venue would take the place of the former Shush club in Newbury Street.

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It promises a nightclub, bar and cafe serving afternoon tea, bottomless brunches, and band nights in a venue with a 600-person capacity.

The club, which professes to be LGBTQ+ friendly will be hiring soon.

The news of Delany's Club opening comes after clubbers in Wantage were left devastated when the popular Shush club unexpectedly closed citing financial problems during the pandemic in 2020.

New owners Neil Delaney – after whom the club will be names – and Terry Frankum, from Wantage, plan to bring "life back" to the town.

The club will be Mr Delaney and Mr Frankum's first venture together.

Herald Series: Shush nightclub Shush nightclub

The owners said: "One of our main aims is to bring life back into Wantage, supporting and working together with local businesses is incredibly important to us."

Mr Delaney and Mr Frankum said they are working all the hours available, to get the club turned around to a point where people can be welcomed in and will reveal the further plans soon.

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Some bar owners hope the reopening of the venue will keep punters in the town.

Craig Gradwell, the manager of The Swan pub and band venue in Market Place said business was now getting back to normal following the hard times of the pandemic and hoped the new nightclub would keep drinkers in the town.

He said: "Anything that is going to keep people in the town is good. It will keep people in town and stop them from going to Oxford."

However, some pub managers declined to comment on the revival of the Wantage club including The Lamb Inn and The Bull Inn, whose manager Daniel Rolls previously worked at Shush nightclub.

Shush owner Steve Head took to Facebook when the club was forced to close in June 2020.

He said: "With a very heavy heart our family has decided that the doors to Shush will remain closed."

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He added: "We will not be reopening we are so sorry, and we are absolutely devastated that we have to announce this."

Mr Head said the main reason behind the decision was the pandemic but added that there were other factors like coronavirus insurance claims and agreement with the landlord over rent payments.

The opening date of Delaney's Club has not yet been revealed.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Rebecca Whittaker, she joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Rebecca covers education and news in Abingdon and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Rebecca.Whittaker@newquest.co.uk or calling 07824524333

Follow her on Twitter @RebecWhitt

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