WORTHING’S end-of-pier nightclub has been renamed Angelik as a new manager tries to shake off its troubled past.

Steve Stevens, 34, from Portslade, took over the premises, formerly known as The Pier, in the Southern Pavilion, in October and is now planning to apply for a new premises licence.

But Mr Stevens fears the borough council licensing meeting will not be held until the New Year, meaning he will miss out on the lucractive Christmas party season.

Mr Stevens, who said he had spent 14 years managing pubs and clubs, including three summers in Ibiza, vowed to give Angelik the “wow factor”.

Police called for the closure of the former Pier club following outbreaks of violence.

Its licence was suspended for three months and the firm which ran the venue, Worthing Bars Ltd, went into liquidation.

Mr Stevens, who was assistant manager at The Pier before quitting 14 months ago, held a meeting with police before submitting his licence application.

He said: “I want to give the club that ‘wow factor’ as opposed to walking in, buying a cheap drink and getting trashed.”

Angelik, which has an 800-clubber capacity, would mainly appeal to the 18-23 age group, with a day bar operating during the summer.

Mr Stevens also wanted to showcase up-and-coming bands and introduce new attractions such as an ice rink.

He said: “I am not in this to make tons of money, I am in it to give people a good experience.

“People want something new and different. It’s going to be a long route but I am passionate about it.”

Simon Jones, the borough council’s licensing officer, said: “Everybody in the town wants something to go in there, whether it is a nightclub, bar or other attraction.”