BOLTON has a new nightclub — and its owners hope it will put the town on the regional map.

The former New York New York, in Bridge Street, will reopen as Loco Bolton after a £500,000 investment, bringing 20 news jobs to the town.

The 1,000-capacity club was briefly reopened last year but has since been bought by a North Wales businessman.

David Thomas, based in Wrexham, owns 10 clubs but also works for the national Luminar nightclub chain, which once owned New York New York along with Ikon, which closed in January, 2012.

Luminar sold various clubs across the UK last year, blaming falling trade on the recession, young people’s lack of spending money and pub industry changes.

Now, Tom Benson, an ex-Tower FM promotional manager and DJ at Bolton’s J2 venue, is working with Mr Thomas to promote Loco.

The venue opens tomorrow and has a programme of weekend entertainment planned for the next few weeks, including a night with DJs from Burnley’s Angels club, which became well-known in the 1990s and 2000s.

The club also wants to build links with the University of Bolton, other organisations and promoters for midweek events.

Mr Benson said: “We want to expand Bolton’s night-time offering. It has become limited in recent years with the closure of clubs like Atlantis and Ikon.

“We’ve got lots of ideas and want Loco to be a safe, well-run venue. People have become used to going to Manchester or Liverpool for clubs but we want to offer something closer to home.

“We’ve got DJs lined-up for weekends but also want to host mid-week events. Some smaller Bolton venues, like Blind Tiger, host live music and we don’t want to step on their toes. However, this is a bigger venue and we can perhaps add to what’s available.”

Mr Benson, aged 27, went to Bolton School and then studied fashion PR before moving into promotions.

New York New York was opened in 2006, inspired by the 1970s superclub Studio 54.

Its dance floor was a replica of the original. At the time, Luminar spent £1.2 million refurbishing the venue, which was previously home to Chicago Rock. Loco has been refitted and includes three bars and a VIP area