Cash-strapped Lancashire County Council is to use part of its headquarters as a new conference and events venue.

The Exchange, at County Hall, is to brand itself as a training and conference facility.

On the fourth floor of the building in Pitt Street the venue would include a bar able to serve alcohol from 12noon to 10pm Monday to Saturday according to a licensing application submitted to Preston City Council.

Head of facilities management for the county council Clare Joynson said: “We have applied for a license for our conference and event venue, The Exchange, located in County Hall.

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“The Exchange provides the county council with a business-focused training and conference facility in the centre of Preston. The location of The Exchange has the benefit of excellent local and national transport links with hotel accommodation nearby, all of which open up excellent opportunities for the council to attract new business clients, with a view to bringing in additional revenue to the council.

“The license is not for a staff bar. It will enable us to host a wide range of events for other organisations and provide facilities comparable to other similar venues.”

The county council confirmed at this stage they were only taking internal bookings for the use of the space.

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