A new events venue based in a converted town centre warehouse has been granted a licence.

The W House is now set to open in January inside a formerly vacant five-storey building between Week Street and Rose Yard in Maidstone.

A £750,000 renovation will see the structure transformed.

The first floor will include dance floor/ performance space, stage, and bar.

The second floor which be much like the first but with a mezzanine overlooking the stage.

A high-end cocktail bar and function room will occupy the top floor, complete with an open-air roof terrace.

Owner Stephen Moore, who also runs The Source in Rose Yard, revealed his vision for the events centre earlier this week.

The licence for the premises, granted by Maidstone Borough Council's sub licensing committee on Friday, covers a huge range of entertainment including boxing matches, live music and stand-up comedy.

Also allowed by the licence are a maximum capacity of 1,300 people and the sale of alcohol until 6am on some nights of the week.

While the owner hopes to have the first two levels completed and open by January, party-goers hoping to check-out the third floor may have to wait until August.

Confidently pre-empting the success of his application, the 52-year-old owner has already installed signage outside.

He predicts that The W House won't be open every weekend to begin with but hopes that it will pick up momentum, with acts and events arranged for most nights of the week.

The application received only one objection from Trevor Modell, owner of Gallery night club in Bank Street who expressed concerns that the new venue would serve alcohol to people under the age of 18 and accused The Source of doing this before.

Responding to the letter, Mr Moore's solicitor Stephen Thomas said: "I will say that this is a commercial rival and it's our concern that a concocted objection has been put before you because of concern that the Gallery will lose business."

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Modell said: " I totally rejected the idea that my objection was concocted as described by Mr Thomas.

"My objection was raised as I have a genuine concern that the licensing objectives will be breached and underage people will be granted admission and served alcohol."

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