A MUSIC venue which was threatened with closure only months ago reopened after a revamp with record ticket sales on its first two nights.

Darlington’s Forum music centre relaunched triumphantly with its most commercially successful weekend in its seven-year history, selling out to capacity audiences on both Friday and Saturday night.

Headlining on Friday night were popular local cover band Skybabies, with the Jazz Tones, acoustic artists and DJs also performing.

Saturday saw tribute band AC/DC UK put on a show to the packed-out venue, finishing off the record weekend in style.

It was the first time the Borough Road venue had opened since it was taken over by community interest company Humantics.

Community interest companies have no shareholders and all profits are put back into the business.

The future of the Forum was thrown into doubt last summer because of difficulties in accessing £80,000 of loan funding.

At the time, it was not expected that the venue would stay open beyond September, but hundreds of campaigners successfully lobbied Darlington Borough Council and held fundraising gigs to try to keep the centre viable.

The venue had been closed for a few weeks for a refurbishment costing £20,000. Decorators Glenwood Paints donated £5,000 of equipment and materials, and young offenders did the work as part of their community service.

The Forum took out a commercial loan to pay for the rest of the revamp, which was managed by interior designer and Forum bar manager Emma Eland.

As well as being a performance venue, the Forum also has recording studios, rehearsal rooms and has recently launched a Yamaha Music School.

The school teaches seven to 11-year-olds drums and guitar, but is planning to expand into vocals and keyboards and to take older pupils up to adults.

Lessons are £10 an hour.

David Cox, of Humantics, said he was delighted with the relaunch.

“It has been fantastic,” he said. “We were turning people away at the door on both nights because we had reached our capacity.”

He said the venue was selfsustaining and aimed to encourage musical creativity and appreciation in the town.

“We are trying to offer value for money to people who use it,” he said. “All the profits are reinvested in the venue to subsidise the services. The profits go back into the community, which is good for arts, culture and the town generally.

“I would like to say a big thank you to The Friends of The Forum and all the campaigners, music lovers and artists who have supported The Forum over the past few months.”