Jobs safe as Shrewsbury club facing demolition plans move

Up to 50 jobs have been secured at a nightclub in Shrewsbury after bosses this afternoon announced plans to move to make way for the £150 million shopping centre.

Onyx and Blu in Raven Meadows is to be demolished to make way for the New Riverside centre, with work scheduled to start next summer.

Sean Cullen, general manager of the club, said the success of Onyx and Blu since it opened about 18 months ago meant bosses were keen to find a new location for the nightclub in Shrewsbury, a move which would secure the jobs of dozens of members of staff.

"We will obviously have to move, but we are told that the work is not until this time next year," he said.

"We will be looking for a new premises."

Mr Cullen said they were looking into the possibility of a site within the new development, but could be willing to move into a more central location.

"We want to stay in the town and the club has 40 to 50 staff that rely on us. There are locations that we have looked at from a distance," he added.

The comments come as the Co-operative supermarket chain said no decision had yet been made on what will happen to its store in the current Riverside centre, which will also be bulldozed.

A spokesman said: "We are awaiting further information from the landlord about the development proposals and will review our position then."