CLEVEDON'S Hand Stadium is set to be transformed after it was sold to a property investor in a deal worth £750,000.

Mark Lewis, 48, bought the ground from businessman and Bristol Rovers director Barry Bradshaw and has already spent £150,000 on refurbishing the complex.

He says he has plans to turn it into a facility of which the entire town can be proud.

Mr Lewis, who lives in Butcombe, bought the Davis Lane complex – home to Clevedon Town Football Club – in June and over the past few months has spent thousands updating the facilities.

The Vibe nightclub has been refurbished with new sound and lighting and new toilet facilities.

The conferencing facilities have also been overhauled with bookings to use the facilities already being made by the AA and British Gas.

There are also plans to replace the current artificial pitch at the stadium at a cost of £250,000.

The current all-weather pitch is in desperate need of an overhaul and there are plans to replace it by the end of the year with a new state-of-the-art 3G pitch.

Mr Lewis is hoping to buy a piece of land to turn into a junior football and sports facilities in a bid to attract younger sportsmen and women to use the stadium and there are plans to launch a new six-a-side league.

It is hoped that the stadium could one day have a wedding licence.

The stadium already runs three minibuses to collect customers using The Vibe nightclub on Saturday nights and plans to buy another bus.

Mr Lewis also hopes to introduce activities including tea dances for older people in the town and introduce green energy at the complex, installing solar panels and a wind turbine.

Mr Bradshaw, who has owned the stadium for the last 14 years, has been retained as a consultant to help Mr Lewis bring the complex into the 21st century. Mr Lewis said he wanted the Hand Stadium to become a community hub and that he planned to open up the facilities during quieter times to voluntary groups and local organisations for free.

Mr Lewis said: "We want the Hand Stadium to be a facility that the community can use for sport and entertainment.

"We have already spent £150,000 on refurbishing and upgrading the facilities as admittedly they were looking somewhat tired.

"We envisage spending around another £100,000 to complete the refurbishment of the complex.

"We want the site to be available seven days and nights a week for the local community to enjoy.

"And we want them to come through the doors and be wowed at what we have to offer."

A series of special nights have already been organised including a night of Elvis on October 14 and a cabaret night raising money for Help for Heroes on November 11.

There will also be Christmas cabaret nights at the venue every Friday throughout December.

Mr Lewis added: "We are very interested in the thoughts of the local community and would be interested in hearing their thoughts and suggestions for the Hand Stadium.

"If they want to pop in for a coffee and see the complex and have a chat, they will be more than welcome."

Anyone who wants to find out more or who has suggestions for events at the stadium can email info@handstadium.co.uk.