One of Birmingham Southside's most popular gay venues, the Nightingale Club, has unveiled Lawrence Barton as its new owner after being sold for an undisclosed sum. 

Lawrence Barton, who already runs the Loft Lounge and Village Inn venues in Birmingham's Gay Village is set to invest in excess of £1million in the business over the next few years. Mr Barton is also keen to build a proactive relationship with all full Nightingale Club members and will honour the current benefits and membership offers until next April. 

Opening in 1994 on Kent Street, the Nightingale Club marked a significant step forward for Birmingham's gay community and has remained popular with not only Birmingham residents but also the UK's wider gay population. 

New owner Lawrence Barton said: "The Nightingale Club has played an important role for Birmingham's gay community and we're really pleased to have the opportunity to help it to continue to move forward. We are keen to build working partnerships with the other gay venues in the city, along with developing established relationships to ensure that the venue once again becomes one of the biggest gay superclubs in the country." 

Southside Business Improvement District (BID) Manager Julia Chance said: "Since it first opened its doors in 1994 the Nightingale Club has remained one of Southside's most popular venues offering everything from live performances to The Big Saturday Night Out. We're delighted that Lawrence has taken ownership and look forward to helping support the next chapter for this significant venue."