The story of the man who turned a seedy Worksop nightclub into a church

This is more or less the opening line of my interview with Pete Hardy, the man who recently bought a Worksop nightclub and is steadily transforming it into a house of worship.

I never had the pleasure of a night on the tiles at Disraeli’s nightclub on Victoria Square, but I’ve heard the legend, and seen pictures of its once garish red and black interior complete with dancing poles.

These days, it’s usually the other way round, with churches and even cathedrals across the country falling victim to the demand for a good nightclub as interest in church-going falls into decline.

I’m curious to see how this works in reverse, and am invited to the former pub site where a transformation is well underway.

The bar, dance floor and red and black tiles have been swiftly removed- revealing a welcoming foyer, an open plan kitchen and bright, spacious main hall where the services take place.

When I meet Pete, the church leader, I like him immediately- he has a warmth about him that instantly puts me at ease, and an infectious, child-like enthusiasm for the project at hand.

It’s clear straight away that we share a love of history, and as he gives me a tour of the building he tells me the land we’re standing on has boasted a drinking house for centuries.

In fact, the original plans for the Chesterfield canal, which famously winds through Worksop, were originally drawn up in a pub that stood here in the 1700s.

Keen to hold onto the building’s heritage, this “home for the work of the church” has been named after that same pub, The Golden Ball.

“We don’t have anything against a bar,” says Pete. “I like the odd glass of wine myself. And when I was a lad, there was nothing I liked to do more than get drunk. I was a real horror for it.”