Renovated arts venue to 'revitalise' night economy

Lisa Mart said AEG Presents UK will bring a varied number of acts to the town

The new operators of a refurbished live entertainment venue say they hope it will "revitalise" a town's night-time economy.

AEG Presents UK has taken over the running of Watford Colosseum, which is owned by Watford Borough Council, after it was closed for five years.

The Art Deco venue had £16m spent on it as part of a regeneration project by the local authority, and has a new stage and revamped bar area. It will reopen on Friday evening with a performance by Ocean Colour Scene.

Lisa Mart, AEG Presents UK's regional general manager, said the venue was now up to "modern standards" with the vision for it to be a "world-class entertainment venue".

The Watford Colosseum has reopened its former Art Deco entrance

AEG Presents UK got into the building four weeks ago and fitted new lighting, furnishings and equipment under the next phase of works.

Ms Mart said: "The vision is to be a world-class entertainment venue for Watford. What's really important for a lot of towns and cities is the revitalising of the night-time economy."

She said as more people chose to go out for meals and a drink rather than have a "late night", the venue's offering of comedy, gigs, sports events and some theatre will hopefully get "more people back into the town centre".

The venue as the work was being carried out

Ms Mart said: "The majority of the refurbishment is really about bringing back its heritage, bringing back that 1930s Art Deco style, and bringing back the front entrance as the building was designed to be used.

"It's about bringing the stage up to those modern standards, so that we continue to have those high-class acts."

The venue has retained its capacity for 2,300 standing and 1,200 seated.

The multi-million-pound renovation has included work on a new stage and bar area

Some of the acts to take to the stage in September include Adam Ant, Jake Bugg, Ricky Gervais and a sold-out gig by Level-42.

"There's that hunger in the community for people to come back out and have that evening entertainment," Ms Mart added.