A £2 million facelift at a Shropshire nightclub has been put on hold until early next year, with managers today claiming the UK’s economic climate was one of the factors behind the delay.The Buttermarket in Shrewsbury said the refurbishment work had been put back for a number of reasons, including the state of the national economy.

The work is expected to include new decor, facilities and a mystery £200,000 item that managers claim no other nightclub in the country has.

Earlier this year the club said rewiring work had begun ahead of the main phase of the project, which at the time was expected to be completed by September.

But today the club, which opened in 1986 and is owned by Kerry Wycherley, said work had been put back until January.

A spokesman for the Howard Street venue today said: “We’re not ready to do the refurbishment yet.

“We’re bringing some really exciting stuff here and want to get the project right. We don’t want to rush the project.

“It’s a waste of time doing it at this point of year because it’s some of the busiest months of the year. The general economy now could also be deemed as one of the factors.”

He said the work would start in January next year and be completed within the month, but it is not clear how the club will be affected and whether it would need to close at all while it takes place.

Managers are remaining tight-lipped about exactly what work is planned for the club, but they have said it includes a £200,000 mystery item which they say the venue will be the first in the country to have.

Meanwhile, the club has applied to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council to vary its licence, although it said the application had nothing to do with the refurbishment project.

Managers say the application relates to small changes to the layout of the building in the submitted plans and the operating schedule of the premises.

A 28-day period of consultation has now begun for people to have their say about the proposals.

The spokesman said: “This application is ahead of a planned refurbishment of the premises planned to commence in January, 2009.”

By John Kirk