A NIGHTCLUB which started life as a cinema and later became a bingo hall is about to have another incarnation as a church, the Oxford Mail can reveal.

The owners of The Regal, in Cowley Road, have agreed a long-term lease with a church group to take over the building.

Instead of students worshipping at the altar of dance music, the venue will resound to the echoes of Sunday sermons and gospel choirs.

It is believed the Christian Life Centre, currently based in a smaller building in Oxford Road, will move in and host its first service tomorrow.

Manager Niaz Ali, who has run the club for the past three years and whose family bought the premises five years ago, said the promise of a guaranteed rental income had been impossible to turn down.

He said: “I’m really gutted that it is happening like this because we have worked really hard over the last year to build up the profile of the venue and bring it to a point where it’s doing really well.”

As well as heating and lighting the building, he said business rates cost about £1,000 a week.

The programme of club and music nights will continue until New Year’s Eve, when the church group will start holding more activities at the venue.

Mr Ali will, who will stay on as the licence holder and premises supervisor, said while club nights will end, there will be gigs and charity events on a less frequent basis.

The Regal hit the headlines after a street brawl outside the premises on New Year’s Day saw five people arrested.

But Mr Ali said he had worked hard to address concerns in the community, training staff to deal with issues and working closely with police.

He said: “So many people have told us about coming here as children and it being a real hub for the community and we wanted to create that legacy for a new generation. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ve managed to create that yet.”

Elizabeth Mills, chairman of the Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association and East Oxford Residents’ Association Forum, said: “I think residents on both sides of Cowley Road will welcome this shift.”

Anthony Cheke, 66, of Hurst Street, spokesman for the Hurst Street Residents’ Association, said he wanted to know more about how the building will be run.

He said: “I want to know whether they would allow non-Christians to have events there. We’ve lost a hall, the SS Mary and John Church Hall, which is being redeveloped, so if to some extent it could replace that then it could prove to be very useful.”

Barbara Tucker, who lives in Essex Street, said noise in the area from people attending The Regal had been a problem.

She said: “We will have to wait and see how it works.

“If it’s going to be quieter, more orderly and less mucky, residents will be pleased.”

The Christian Life Centre was unavailable for comment yesterday.