A popular venue in Weymouth will be remodelled in the coming weeks with hopes that it will ‘build excitement’ in the town, with the site manager revealing plans to bring in ‘better bands and acts.’

Different parts of the Rendezvous club on St Thomas Street will be closed in January and February as renovations are carried out to 'evolve their brand' and offer more events as well as weekly live music.

All three floors of the venue, encompassing Popworld on the third and the Anchor on the first, will undergo changes to benefit the town, according to Jason Waggott, the multi-site general manager.

The plans include moving a stage into the middle floor of Rendezvous, something which has only been done once recently, says Mr Waggott. This due to the Quayside Festival on New Year’s Eve being moved inside due to weather concerns.  

Mr Waggott said: “We want Rendezvous to be a live music venue for local bands and DJs and this will hopefully allow us to welcome bigger bands and acts in the future.

“We’re looking to build excitement in the town and for the Rendezvous brand to evolve. A stage will give us the live music vibes on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday with more relaxed acoustic sets on Sunday.

“We are one of the oldest venues in Weymouth and we want to give the place a reinvention,” he added.

The Anchor will see changes too and hold more events but will keep the ‘fun sports bar’ look, says Mr Waggott.

“We’re looking to add a barbecue to the outside area for the summer and hold Country and Western Days, moving hay bales into the venue,” he said.

Mr Waggott said that the works are being done during the off-peak months so trade is not disrupted, whilst closing sections of the venue off will allow the other parts to function during the works.  

He went on to say that adding new events to the town in the year ahead will get the whole community involved and bring the excitement back to Weymouth.

Mr Waggott said: “We’re building up a big calendar with plans to rebrand and re-develop Quayside Festival and we’re in communication with Dorset Council currently about the idea of closing the road around the venue some time in December for a Christmas market.”

The site manager said the works will start in January which will see the Anchor close ‘for a few weeks,’ before the attention to work shifts to Rendezvous and Popworld, which will also close for brief periods to accommodate for the renovations.