Bringing out the platform shoes for return of the Buttermarket

I'm not as young as I used to be. My clubbing days are behind me. (If I'm perfectly honest, they were never really in front or beside me).

These days a Saturday night out involves pints of real ale in a pub where I can get a seat and moan about football. And many other things besides.

But even I can welcome the wonderful news that the Buttermarket nightclub is to reopen thanks to a £1 million investment which will create 60 new jobs.

I was never a fan of the old Buttermarket. It was known by many names - the Cattlemarket and the Guttermarket being two that I can get away with repeating in a family newspaper - but, as I have said before, a lot of people had a soft spot for the venue. They will be delighted that it is coming back.

And so they should be, because the person taking it over has a proven track record. Martin Monahan owns the only club I would consider being seen in - C:21 - along with The Peach Tree Restaurant and Spirit nightclub in Abbey Foregate. I think most people would agree they are very good venues.

Martin has promised to bring that level of quality to the Buttermarket and return it to its 'rightful place as Shrewsbury's premier entertainment venue'. He has also pledged to bring top live music acts to the Cellars. Regular readers will know my opinion on the lack of decent bands coming to Shrewsbury, so that vow excites me greatly.

But from a wider point of view, you've only got to look at the reaction of businesses in and around the area to know this is nothing but good news.

Anything that brings in jobs in the current climate has to be applauded (well, not ANYTHING. I mean a restaurant selling kitten burgers might not be such a hot idea) as does a scheme which is going to bring an empty building - especially one as large and iconic as the Buttermarket - back into use.

I hope that with the club reopening, there might be the same level of investment at that end of town as there once was in the 'west end' when bars and restaurants started springing up there.

In my opinion, Shrewsbury still struggles to make the most of its night-time economy. Could it be that this is the first step in addressing that?

Maybe I might even be persuaded to return to the new-look Buttermarket once it opens. White suits and platform shoes are still clubbing gear, right?