The prospect of a huge "superclub" on Brighton seafront may be resurrected after collapsed chain Po Na Na was bought out by a former director.

The firm moved out of administration yesterday and could now press ahead with plans for a 1,040-capacity club at the Aquarium Terraces in Madeira Drive, Brighton.

The £1.5 million project had seemed doomed when Po Na Na went into administration in May after failing to secure vital funding from its bankers.

The existing Po Na Na bar in East Street, Brighton, has been saved as part of the £6 million rescue package.

Administrators Grant Thornton had closed or sold 15 of the chain's worst-performing venues and plan to offload another five.

The Brighton venue, which opened a year ago, is one of the 28 bars and clubs sold to the specially-formed company Barvest.

The buy-out is led by David Phelps, Po Na Na's former commercial director.

He promised many of the venues would be refurbished, although the East Street venue was not seen as needing immediate action.

Mr Phelps said: "The message to the world is that Po Na Na is looking fit, trim and raring to go."

Dave Gaydon, Po Na Na's promotions manager, yesterday refused to comment on the Terraces project beyond saying the firm was still in negotiations with councils.

Dr Alan Bond, chairman of the St James's Street Action Group, which has raised concerns about a large club's effects, said: "There have been rumours Po Na Na is thinking more along the lines of a lounge bar but we will have to wait.

"Although it is now out of administration, it would still have to raise enough money to go ahead as well as the planning conditions which have been imposed.

"Those conditions will still be there if it sells the place."

The action group and the Kingscliffe Society have expressed fears about the late-night noise and disturbance such a major venue could cause in the surrounding area.

Po Na Na agreed a 25-year deal in September 2001 to pay £150,000 a year to lease the 14,000sqft premises at the Terraces.

Brighton magistrates refused the firm a late drinks licence in August last year.

An appeal hearing last March resulted in a 1am licence with conditions.

Friday August 22, 2003