Switch nightclub in the city centre WILL reopen tonight, despite earlier confirmation that it had been banned from doing so.

Following fresh external legal advice, Preston City Council has late this afternoon informed Switch that despite yesterday’s Government guidance to the contrary, they are legally able to reopen tonight (Saturday 1 August).

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Councillor Peter Moss, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulations, said: “In order to clarify Government’s guidance we received Friday 31 July regarding Switch, today we have sought expert external legal advice, and been in further dialogue with the operator of Switch.

“This advice has just come back to inform us that Switch is legally able to repurpose and reopen accordingly.

“This is on the strict basis that Switch proceeds with the agreed safety precautions and do not allow dancing in the venue, the venue is now free to reopen this evening.

“We appreciate this is a very different position to what we announced earlier. Officers have been working tirelessly to resolve the situation in the best way.

“We do ask all patrons who attend to take the safety precautions very seriously, to prevent further spread of coronavirus in Preston.”

Environmental Health Officers from Preston City Council have been working with the operator of Switch to provide clear advice on safely reopening according to venue plans to repurpose.

Read more: Preston is ‘one to watch’ as Covid-19 infections rise

A statement on the nightclub’s Facebook page said: “You may be aware that SWITCH was due to open tonight based on guidelines and legislation as a LIVE MUSIC VENUE, Due to the announcement from Boris yesterday, we have had to repurpose our operation for tonight into a BAR enviorment.

“We understand that some people might want to hold on for more of a ‘live music experience’. if that’s the case, you don’t need to turn up tonight. We will be in contact no later the Tuesday to refund or move over your ticket for when SWITCH LIVE can open. For everyone else, turn up at your allocated ticket time slot tonight.

“We have been in dialog with Preston City Council across this process, You may have seen a facebook post from Preston City Council suggesting that we would not lawfully be permitted to open. We have subsequently taken legal advice from Malcolm Ireland (Napthens) and Leo Charalambides (Kings Chamber) who have worked hard this last 12 hours, and can confirm that we can open lawfully this evening. We understand that Preston City Council will be removing the facebook post.

“It is, and has always been our intension to re open and repurpose SWITCH to deliver a safe and enjoyable experience, We cant wait to welcome you all back, even if its as a BAR tonight”

Switch is asking anyone visiting tonight to read its safety guidance beforehand.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

What do you think about Switch reopening? Will you be going? Let us know in the comments.