Council rents car park to couple running the former Regis

Sandip and Dalveer Gillar spent more than £60k refurbishing The Regis on Reddall Hill Road.

They opened it as Luxor Events, which stages events such as weddings and children's birthday parties, in June 2023.

Sandip and Dalveer had been at loggerheads with the council after it initially refused their requests to rent or buy the car park opposite, which was just lying empty with mounds of earth in spaces and concrete blocks across the entrance.

The council removed the mounds of earth (Image: Handout)

But now after months of talks the council has agreed to licence the car park for Luxor's use for 12-months for £15k, followed after that on a rolling basis for £1,250 a month.

Sandip said the car park is now free for the firm's clients, who are inputting their registration details into a system inside the building and in four to six weeks, will be available for public use as a pay-and-display car park.

She said she was pleased agreement had been reached, but the cost is "extortionate"

Sandip said: "I'm relieved, but didn't expect the cost to be so high.

"It's a lot for a piece of land that was just sitting there anyway and the council was getting no income from.

"It will affect our profit margin - we are a new business and it's very hard for the first two years.

"We are a family business, not a corporate firm with lots of money.

"Our clients are already using it and are really happy about it."

The couple spent more than £60k on revamping the venue (Image: Handout)

The Regis closed in June 2022 after the previous tenants had their premises licence revoked by Sandwell Council over noise complaints.

A spokesperson for Sandwell Council said: "We have agreed a licence for an initial 12-month period at £15,000 per annum. This started on 8 April.

"After a year, the licence will be on a rolling basis with fees charged monthly (with the agreement terminable subject to either party giving three months’ notice)."