More jobs are being created at one of the country’s biggest gay nightclubs thanks to this year’s Birmingham Pride.

Owners of The Nightingale Club say a core team of 40 staff at the Kent Street venue is being doubled to cope with anticipated demand over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

And they say the new staff, who will be taken on to help manage the increased demand, will be considered for permanent posts after the event which attracts tens of thousands of people to the city.

Footfall at the club has steadily increased since new owners took over when the business went into administration 18 months ago.

Birmingham businessman Lawrence Barton, whose family business GB Holdings Ltd runs five other venues in Southside rescued the venue, which has been in the city for more than 30 years.

He says new club nights catering for students, themed nights, the Big Brum Gay Night Out and great live music acts have all helped pull more people into the iconic city venue.

And he says Birmingham Pride is having an increasingly positive economic impact, each year, for all venues including the Nightingale.

This year as well as sponsoring Pride’s mainstage, which has a line-up including Paloma Faith, JLS, Bananarama and Stooshe, the club will also hosting chart-topping number one singer-songwriter A*M*E, who was spotted by Gary Barlow and recently signed to  Sony’s Epic Records, on Saturday May 25.

Previously the venue has attracted acts including The Saturdays, Brit and MOBO award winner Lemar, Lawson, Marcus Collins and Stacey Solomon, as well as impromptu appearances from celebrities visiting the city.

Barton, who is Birmingham Pride’s director and sits on the board of Southside BID, today said; “It is a well worn phrase but Birmingham Pride does get bigger and better each year. We are anticipating tens of thousands for the two-day event and we ware taking on more staff to cope with increased demand.

“Year on year Pride has a considerable impact on Southside and the city’s economy, it creates jobs and brings in local, regional and international visitors which has got to be good for Birmingham.”

For more information about what’s on and to book tickets go to www.birminghampride.com  or www.nightingaleclub.co.uk