A FILMMAKER has transformed the first floor of a former ballroom into a dance spot for house music enthusiasts.

Paul Thompson, from Shildon, took over the Bishop Auckland town centre venue, on Newgate Street, earlier this year and established it as a successful videography and photography studio.

The Factory 2K visual studio is set to welcome music fans to its new Sound Factory nightclub which will run alongside the studio in the building.

Mr Thompson hopes the new venture will boost trade in the area following the arrival of several new businesses to the town.

He said: "I've noticed there has been more traffic in Bishop Auckland and new businesses in the town which is great to see.

"I want to bring music to the town as there's nowhere for people to go to dance. I've installed projection systems which are unlike anything in the town. It's a lovely big open space which can hold about 200 people and I hope it will bring more people to Newgate Street."

Mr Thompson hopes to encourage DJ talent in the area and is looking forward to inviting DJs to perform at the venue whilst also bringing guest house DJs across the UK to the venue.

The venue will promote house music which is a genre of electronic dance music which was created by club DJs and music producers in Chicago in the early 1980s.

The genre is derived from disco and popular house musicians include Frankie Knuckles, Jesse Saunders and Technotronic.

Mr Thompson has a love of the genre and wants to bring the sound to the North-East.

He hopes the venue will be a cultural hub and originally opened the studio as Factory 2K as a nod to Andy Warhol – who owned a New York City studio named The Factory.

The venue is also inspired by the former, Factory Records which was a Manchester-based independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts

Mr Thompson is now set to turn the art space into a dual business when he launches the music venue this upcoming weekend.

He said: “At one time the building was made up of four floors and a ballroom stood on the second floor.

It had high ceilings and lovely architecture, the last time someone danced in this space was decades ago so it will be nice to welcome people back.

The nightclub will launch on Saturday, August 31, at FACTORY 2K Studios and will see performances from DJs including Andrew Audio Reynolds, Mark Peacock and Levi Ringo from 8pm to 12.30am.