A dilapidated former nightclub is poised to be turned into a wedding venue and art centre.

Club Caprice, in Cliftonville, was in operation from the 1960s up until 2016 when it closed for the final time.

In the five years since then the old venue - which forms the basement of Paragon Court in Cliff Terrace - has fallen into a state of disrepair.

But now there is a proposal to breathe new life into the redundant site.

Its owner, Kerry Ryan, has a long-term vision to turn the former club into a multi-function area.

Weddings, art exhibitions and various other events are part of the planned agenda for the crumbling venue.

Mr Ryan, who bought the site in 2019, runs a specialist neon fabrication business which has bases in London and Miami.

He has worked with the likes of Tracey Emin, Damien Hurst and Peter Saville - and was previously commissioned by Emin to create the ‘ I Never Stopped Loving You’ neon sign on Droit House at Margate harbour.

As part of his project to transform Club Caprice, a bid to install a roof made of slate, glass and roofing membrane has been submitted to the district council.

In documents attached to the application, an overview of Mr Ryan's vision for the site is described.

They state: "The applicant brought the site in 2019 with a vision to adapt the former night club into a work/live unit with a multi-function area which will be used for high level art exhibitions, art educational workshops, weddings and various events open to the local and wider community.

"The applicant travels extensively for his work and the residential part of the development is for him and his family while they are in residence in Margate.

"The applicant inherited a huge mess from the previous building owners.

"He has engaged a professional team of architects and local conservation professionals to guide him through the development."

In 2017, there were plans to convert the former nightclub into flats, but the proposals were refused by Thanet District Council.

The block of flats above, and surrounding, the ex-club was built in 1830 and is a Grade-II-listed site.

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