A community centre set to be transformed into a Cuban restaurant and nightclub will still be rented out to the public, developers have confirmed.

Last week plans were revealed to turn the Reggie Goves Community Centre, in Paul’s Row, into a Club Havana restaurant and nightclub which is expected to facilitate up to 600 people at a time.

However managing director of the Club Havana Group, Michael Kretay, has insisted part of the building will still be available to rent to community groups - and money raised in this way will go back into the town.

He said: “We are a new business. One of the directors is from the local area, High Wycombe and we have family in the area. It is not just a case of coming in and seeing a site and thinking ‘this would be fantastic’. We have worked very closely with the council on what it will be, how it can contribute to the town centre and where it is situated.

“It is close to the theatre and the university. It is aimed more at older, mature students and it will still be a community centre.

“We will offer the hall out the back during the day and early evenings as a rentable centre to people in the local community - mother and baby groups, judo groups, ping pong groups.”

Bucks Free Press:

Club Havana will open as a restaurant and cafe during the day and will transform into a nightclub in the evening.

The new venue will offer a “one stop shop” for people looking for a "nice, safe" night out, according to Mr Kretay, from an evening meal through to club complete with a dancefloor - which will be open until the early hours of the morning.

There will be a dress code prohibiting jeans and trainers, and Saturday nights will be strictly over 21s.

He also assured residents the historic plaque commemorating Princess Diana’s visit to the town and grand opening of the centre in 1989 will remain a part of the building for future generations.

Mr Kretay added: “We wouldn’t take away from the heart of the building. It is a community building, we are putting lot of money into it.

“I have no problem with leaving a tribute to Reggie Goves. It is the heart of the building and if people are that passionate about it I have no problem with keeping it there.

“We will also be keeping the Princess Diana plaque too so that remains a part of the building’s history.

“We want to work with the local community and the local council. It is a fantastic building and we are going to put money back into the area.”

If plans are given the green light Club Havana is expected to create 45 jobs, 12 of which will be full time contracts.

A total of 309 readers backed the new plans in an online poll, which ran on the Bucks Free Press for 24-hours last week, compared with 143 votes opposing the proposals.

The new project forms part of Wycombe District Council’s Old Town Renewal Project which has already seen the addition of The Works, Yes Please Golf and Mad Squirrel to the town centre.

Spokesman for Wycombe District Council, Simon Farr, said: “Club Havana will be an excellent addition to the bars and restaurants available in High Wycombe, and we are pleased our Old Town Renewal project continues to reinvigorate the town centre by giving a new lease of life to vacant buildings.”