DANCING Stan the Man says he has so many good memories of the iconic Mr Smith's which is to be bulldozed next month.

As revealed by the Warrington Guardian on Monday, the club is set to be demolished in mid August.

Residents in the town have reacted angrily to the proposals.

Penketh resident Stan Knowles - known as Stan the Man - was a regular at the club, going three times a week.

The 86-year-old, who only stopped going out to pubs two years ago due to arthiritis, said: “I’ve got so many good memories, I couldn’t put them all together.

“I was a good dancer then, and we’d have quite a few drinks and head in about half past ten.

“I’d hate to see it knocked down, it should be kept open as a music venue.”

Former 911 boy band star Simon ‘Spike’ Dawbarn was ‘discovered’, after being employed as a podium dancer in Mr Smith’s as a teenager, alongside Jason Orange from Take That, and Jason ‘J’ Brown from Five.

He said: “It was where I started as a dancer on under 18 nights, and it was where 911 met, and got together.

“I’m absolutely gutted.

“It’s one of the most famous venues in the country and people used to travel up from London to go there.

“On Friday and Saturday nights you couldn’t get in.

“Everyone knows Warrington for Mr Smith’s, there’s no way it should be knocked down.”

Clr Steve Parish (LAB - Bewsey and Whitecross) is ward councillor for the area.

He said: “The buildings are a decent example of the period architecture but whether that is good enough to save it is another matter.

“Most people will have fond memories of it.”

It is not yet known what will replace Mr Smith’s.

In a poll on the Warrington Guardian website, readers voted for a restaurant or bar as their preferred option.