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'Why do I have to go to London for a night out?'

Harriet Heywood
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Reporting fromSt Neots
Harriet Heywood/BBC Mr Kabzinski, Ms Marsh and Mr Squire are next to each other in that order. They are stood behind a bar at the citizen hub. Mr Kabzinski has one arm on the counter and the other on his hip. He is wearing a black top and silver chain. He has brown hair and a long brown beard. Ms Marsh is smiling at the camera while wearing a black top, earrings and silver necklace. She has long brown hair and sunglasses on top of her head. Mr Squire is also smiling at the camera. He has his arms folded across his chest and is wearing a black top with 'Vibrancy' written on the front in pink. He has brown hair and a beard. Behind the three are shelves with wine glasses Harriet Heywood/BBC
Adrian Kabzinski, Grace Marsh and Sam Squire sold out capacity to the new venue within 72 hours of announcing tickets

Young people have come together to create a new alternative music night in their home town.

Grace Marsh, 24, is one of three young people working to create a space in St Neots, to boost the Cambridgeshire town's night-time economy.

With Sam Squire, 25, and Adrian Kabzinski, 28, the trio came up with C58 to host alternative music events next to the Citizen Hub.

Mr Squire explained their thinking, saying: "Why have I got go all the way to London to have a good night out... why can't we set something up in St Neots?"

Harriet Heywood/BBC Ms Marsh is smiling at the camera while wearing a black top, earrings and silver necklace. She has long brown hair and sunglasses on top of her head. She sat outside in front of a brown fence and the sun is shining on her face. Behind here are some hanging baskets with flowers planted inside. Harriet Heywood/BBC
For a "good night out" Grace Marsh often travelled 180 miles to Liverpool where she went to university

Ms Marsh, managing director at the Community Hub, said they wanted to bring people together by hosting different events and giving local talent a platform to perform.

She also hoped it would familiarise people with the hub so they felt comfortable visiting or asking for help if they needed it.

The themes and sounds of the events will alternate to give people something new each time they visit.

'Thrive'

By doing so, they hope it will give people a purpose to come into town and explore its nightlife, she added.

"There's enough space, enough capacity and so many cool, small businesses that do amazing signature cocktails and amazing craft beer - we want those places to thrive," she said.

Since launching the space, the team said several people had been in touch regarding opportunities for budding young DJs to perform.

The space will open for its first event, described as bringing Amsterdam to St Neots, on 5 July.

Harriet Heywood/BBC Mr Kabzinski is sitting on a brown couch, with green pillows, next to a window on a sunny day. He is wearing a black top and silver chain. His hands are clasped in front of him. Mr Kabzinski has brown hair, a long beard and is smiling at the camera. Harriet Heywood/BBC
Adrian Kabzinski, 28, said they had received "some wicked feedback"

The team hopes to eventually start a type of "fringe festival" across the town to encourage people to move between different venues.

Mr Kabzinski, who has worked in hospitality since he was 16, said C58 aims to help local hospitality.

"I sat there for ages trying to figure out how can we come up with ways to focus on the nightlife... what brings everyone together? It's the culture," he said.

"St Neots is actually a good place, we can make something out of it. This has given us a great blueprint to focus on the bigger things now. 


"You can have a venue but if you don't have a culture within that certain area, it's not going to happen... so that's the bit we're still working on."

Harriet Heywood/BBC Mr Squire is smiling at the camera while wearing a top with the words 'Vibrancy' written on the centre in pink. He has short brown hair and a beard. Behind him is vibrant blue board with drawings of figures dancing. These have been coloured in blue, red, pink, yellow, orange, white and green.Harriet Heywood/BBC
Sam Squire, 25, has lived in the town for 20 years

Mr Squire is CEO of Inspire 2 Ignite, which aims to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training.

He hopes the venture will create opportunities like a hospitality programme for young people.

"There's so many people that, like Grace and Adrian, have loads of potential but they need the opportunity to showcase what that is.

"We want to just amplify that to as many people in the community as possible."

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