Former Coventry nightclub undergoes total transformation to become nursery
A former Coventry nightclub has undergone a total transformation to become a nursery and is already proving popular with parents.
Beer bottles have been swapped for baby bottles as Small Fries Day Nursery is now up and running at the former Carey’s venue in the city.
The Hertford Place-based centre opened its doors back in August and is already going from strength to strength.
Tony Carey, owner of the nursery, said: “It has been a very positive start for the nursery and we are now seeing more and more enquiries every week.
“Many parents with babies or those with babies on the way have been looking at the facilities and that means that their children will be with us for many years – which is great for the future of Small Fries.”
The project to turn the former nightspot into a childcare facility was supported by the CWLEP Growth Hub.
The club closed its doors in December 2014, but there were a number of issues surrounding the planning application to change the use of the venue.
This led Tony to turn to the Growth Hub and tap into the experience and expertise available.
Working together, they managed to resolve all of the planning problems and then the green light for the nursery was given in January 2016.
Tony Carey added: “CWLEP Growth Hub were such a big help in making the nursery happen, it was only when I turned to the team for help that steps were made with all of the planning issues.
“The Growth Hub is an extremely valuable asset for small businesses and I have already recommended the team to someone else who I think they could help.
“Sometimes small businesses do not know how to deal with bigger organisations and the Growth Hub gives them the support that they need.”
Currently the centre is based on the ground floor of the building, but there are plans to expand in the near future.
Jeremy Moore, account manager at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “The team at the Growth Hub provided advice and help to Tony to deal with planning issues and get the proposals to transform Carey’s into a nursery.
“We are very pleased to see how things have progressed and that Small Fries has now been opened.
“But our help does not stop now, we will be offering Tony and the team support and making sure that our work is ongoing so that Small Fries can continue to grow.”
Caption: (left to right) Bill Blincoe and Jeremy Moore from the CWLEP Growth Hub with Tony Carey of Small Fries.