Jongleurs for West End superclub

Jongleurs is to open TWO comedy venues on the site London's Home 'superclub', just yards away from The Comedy Store.

The chain's owners, Regent Inns, last week brought the lease on the landmark eight-story club in Leicester Square.

Now it plans extensive building work to accommodate the two comedy clubs, a three-story Austrialian theme pub Walkabout and a nightclub, Surfers.

Home closed earlier this year, following problems with drugs, and currently stands empty.

Rent on the building, owned by CLS Holdings, will be at least £2million a year. The lease has more than 22 years left to run.

A Regent Inns spokesman said: "The company will develop the site into an entertainment complex housing its flagship brands, Walkabout and Jongleurs."

The move is likely so spark fierce competition between Jongleurs and The Comedy Store, just 100 yards away in a less prominent location.

Regent Inns Chief Executive, Stephen Haupt added: "Our strategy is to create big venues with late licences in prime locations.

"We have worked hard to develop Regent's brands, which have grown significantly over the past couple of years, and the Leicester Square site will allow us to showcase all of them under one roof for the first time. "

And CLS chairman Sten Mortstedt said: "We are delighted to welcome a company with the financial strength, flair and professionalism of Regent Inns as tenant of One Leicester Square."

Published: 4 Dec 2001