Inside the island’s iconic nightclub transformed into a new cafe bar and hair salon

The iconic Paramount City has been redeveloped by former Isle of Man TT rider Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle and his wife Lydia, who bought the building in August 2020 and now live in the upper floor apartments of the site.

They spent years breathing new life into the building, and their business welcomed its first customers Friday.

The large space on the ground floor of the building – a space that once hosted dozens of partygoers dancing the night away – is now occupied by a cafe bar with a spacious seating area.

And although the Paramount’s days as a popular nightclub are long gone, a trace of its former appearance remains in the form of a DJ booth located in the far corner.

Beyond the coffee bar and kitchen is a series of steps leading to a raised platform where Lydia practices her trade as a barber.

The venue also contains several Isle of Man TT memorabilia, design touches no doubt inspired by its co-owner.

Speaking about the new venture, Mr Quayle said: “It really was my and my wife’s dream.

“We would walk the dog along Douglas Drive outside the building, and I also worked here for four years. That’s actually where I met Lydia!

“It’s been a long and difficult process since we bought the building, but it’s great to see it open now.

“We didn’t use any contractors and did everything ourselves, so I had to get my hands dirty.”

The once popular Queen’s Promenade nightclub was bought by the Sefton Group in 2008.

It closed permanently in 2011 after briefly operating again as The Crescent – ​​the name it was known by before being revamped and becoming Paramount in the early ’90s.

Before it was known as Paramount City, it was called Little Caesar’s Nightclub, and before that as the Crescent, dating back to the 1940s.