Work to transform a former theatre and cinema in Huddersfield into the largest pub in the UK complete with its own state-of-the-art nightclub has hit some snags.
This means the opening will be delayed and the costs are going up but the developers are working to overcome the problems.
The aim was that a high technology juice bar, a coffee bar and an ice-cream bar would open this autumn followed next year by an upstairs bar and then the downstairs bar and nightclub.
But the snags mean it’s not possible to say when the development will be ready to open.
The scheme has been devised by Huddersfield-based Hellfire Entertainment which was set up two years ago and co-founded by Ian Snowball and his son, Adam, who is the managing director.
Adam revealed: “We have hit a number of problems that have slowed us down. The biggest delay is in the progress of the roof terrace. Because this work will involve the removal of the entire roof and the two ceilings below it we are holding back a lot of the work below for fear of damage by rain and falling rubble but it is all a question of perspective. We jokingly console ourselves by reminiscing that Rome wasn’t built in a day … if it was we would employ that workforce.”
He added: “Empty voids are found to be full of concrete and vice versa. Same for supports. Some are not there while others are found where there are not supposed to be any. And, of course, every time you find one of these problems the costs automatically increase along with the time scale.
Adam also revealed that the historical significance of the building was adding to the delay.
He said: ‘We have had a complete change of heart since taking over the building. Ordinarily, for obvious reasons, the plan would be to get the building up and running as soon possible. However, the more time we spend in the building and the more people we speak to the more it comes home to us that we are in possession of a very special building, part of Huddersfield’s heritage and it deserves better than that.
“For example, we knew there were going to be gremlins behind the old wooden frontage and sure enough when we took it all down we found all the once beautifully hand carved stonework had been relentlessly hacked away.
“Ian and I both looked at each other instantly and said let’s put a new one up quick. But, as I say, we are all sentimentally attached to the building now so after much deliberation and the usual ‘you know this is going to cost us don’t you?’, we decided to try and set about rescuing what was left.”
Once opened the Colosseum will feature several themed bars along with the nightclub and will have a capacity for 2,500 people.
The club will be high enough to feature acrobats due to an original tower from when the building was a theatre. A giant DJ booth running the full length of the club will feature more than 20 record decks, the latest electronics and Dolby certified monitors.
There will also be studio-quality karaoke plus a Crystal VIP bar on the first floor which will be aimed at the high end cocktail market.
The signature cocktails will be made using modern technology creating crystal clear cocktails.
