TROUBLED Southampton nightspot Celebration Plaza could be back in business by the autumn.

Owners of the club, formerly leased by soccer ace Matt le Tissier and comedian Mike Osman, hope to re-open at the end of the summer.

The Terminus Terrace nightclub, described by Mr Osman as "an absolute nightmare from day one", introduced naked dancing girls last year in a bid to boost takings.

But the plan backfired when erotic dancers per-formed lewd sex acts in front of undercover vice cops.

Earlier this week Celebration Plaza's licence and special hours licence were revoked by magistrates, leaving the future of the club in doubt.

But today nightclub owners Inntrepreneur Pub Company pledged to push ahead with re-opening under new management as soon as possible.

Business development manager Steve Williams told the Daily Echo: "We are aware of the interest in the club due to the high profile of the two previous leaseholders.

"At the moment we have the whole legal route to go through before we can think about re-opening." He added: "We would hope to appoint new lease-holders as soon as is practically and legally possible.

"I would envisage by the end of the summer we would be in a position to make some progress." Mr Williams said the new leaseholders would have to submit a business plan before determining a theme for the club, which has been closed for several months. It was too early to say if the premises would be run as a nightclub, pub or restaurant.

Celebration Plaza, which opened in May 1995 after eight years as Turpins pub, has always belonged to Inntrepreneur, a subsidiary of The Grand Pub Company.

Le Tissier and Osman held the lease until May 27, when it was sold back to Inntrepreneur. Neither star now has any involvement in the club.

The nightspot has struggled financially since its glittering showbiz launch, with Osman telling police it had been run as a hobby rather than a full-time venture.

Table dancing nights were introduced last summer in a bid to lure back custom from LeisureWorld and other city clubs.

Southampton licensing inspector Kelvin Taylor said any interested party had three weeks to appeal against the licence revocation.

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