New role for former nightclub sultan statue

The sultan sculpture once welcomed visitors to one of Derby's nightclubs

A familiar face from Derby's nightlife is to make a return at a city pub.

For years, the Sultan of Zanzibar statue greeted visitors from the canopy over the Zanzibar venue in London Road.

After it closed, the sculpture stayed in the city and, after a gold paint refurbishment, spent spells at The Bell & Castle and The Woodlands pubs.

Now Marc O'Dwyer, one of the managers at O'Dwyers bar in Friar Gate, is giving the sultan a new home - and a makeover from graffiti artist Darrell Wynne.

Zanzibar opened at the turn of the century in the former Gaumont Palace Art Deco cinema building, which dates from the 1930s.

Its distinctive two-metre (6.5 ft) tall, bronze-effect sultan statue above its entrance came down after the nightclub closed in 2012.

The bust is believed to represent a former sultan of Zanzibar.

The nightclub fell into disrepair before becoming the Cosmo buffet restaurant

Mr O'Dwyer said the sultan was then listed by Cosmo restaurant in a charity auction online about 12 years ago and he clubbed together with a group of 11 friends to buy him for £420.

As well as being located at two city pubs, the artwork also spent time in Mr O'Dwyer's parents' garden.

After being brought to O'Dwyers earlier in October it was stolen, but Mr O'Dwyer said it was returned from its "little holiday" a few days later.

"It's got a new home in the city centre so it's ready now for a bit of a glow up and a refurb," he said.

The statue is due to be repainted by Derby graffiti artist Darrell Wynne, also known as Soap, on Tuesday.

He said he was "extremely excited" to give "an iconic piece of Derby a true Irish makeover".

A generation of clubbers remember the Sultan of Zanzibar

Mr Wynne said: "Zanzibar is one of the first nightclubs I used to go to when I went down town and holds many memories through my teen years seeing this statue as you would approach the club entrance.

"I've never really had this sort of canvas to work with, spraying a statue is something new and interesting to me."

Mr O'Dwyer added: "I know it sounds daft being a fibreglass statue but everyone of a certain age seems to remember it.

"We grew up going there; I think it's just nice to have it back in the city centre and overlooking people as they're out on the weekends having a good time."