A former department store is set to be transformed into a new members' club.

Worthing’s long-dormant Beales site in South Street will be turned into The Stable Yard which will include a spa, business hotel, cocktail bar, restaurant and rooftop terrace.

Members can expect a fusion of Japanese cuisine paired with locally sourced ingredients at the restaurant, handcrafted cocktails from its signature bar, an “Insta-worthy” roof terrace providing guests with a “secluded outdoor oasis” and a “luxurious” gym-spa offering an array of treatments.

Accommodation at the club’s business hotel will offer rooms, suites and studios, while state-of-the-art meeting rooms will also be available to members with each designed to accommodate a variety of business events, conferences and seminars.

Reading and library rooms will also provide quiet spaces for members to enjoy.

Bosses hope to open the club this December.

Simon Darcy Abbott, a spokesman for The Stable Yard, said: “We have designed some of the best live work, studios and apartments throughout the UK.

“They have been developed in some of the best locations, where you can live, work and enjoy the rest of the time with some of the best food leisure outlets within walking distance.  Members do not join to impress or to be seen.

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“They join to get their work done in stunning surroundings and spend the rest of their time enjoy the week to its fullest.”

Mr Abbott said the team is committed to working closely with local artisans, suppliers and businesses to support the growth and development of Worthing and said the new club will create numerous jobs.

“The Stable Yard team are dedicated to preserving the legacy of this beloved establishment while transforming it into a modern and vibrant destination that caters to the needs and desires of the local community,” he said.

 “We look forward to providing multiple employment opportunities as well as attracting members from other locations around the UK.”

The building has remained empty since Beales collapsed into administration in January 2020 after it was unable to secure a last-minute buyer.