Star-studded history of Batley Variety Club to be retold as 'King of Clubs' book launches

Batley Variety Club attracted some of the most famous stars of the time. Credit: ITV

A book celebrating the glittering history of the Batley Variety Club is being launched.

It has been penned by Maureen Prest, who worked in PR for the old club, and local musician Sammy King, who wrote the Roy Orbison hit 'Penny Arcade'.

The publication, called 'King of Clubs', is about the late founder and owner of Batley Variety Club, Jimmy Corrigan.

The West Yorkshire venue opened on March 26 1967 and attracted some of the world's most famous musicians, from Tina Turner and the Bee Gees to Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey.

Louis Armstrong performed at Batley Variety Club in 1968 and described the town in a very unusual manner.

Batley Variety Club closed in 1978 before reopening as the Frontier a few years later.

It closed again last year and is expected to open as a gym this summer.