Media pictures of sozzled teenagers collapsing outside nightclubs have fuelled panic over the introduction of new licensing laws in November which will allow round-the-clock drinking.

CCTV images of boozed-up brawlers make uncomfortable viewing for Andrew Guthrie, whose business depends on people having a great time without a trip to accident and emergency.

Andrew, of Selbourne Close, Hove, has spent two years setting up Party Central UK, a web site which lets people create their own itinerary for hen and stag parties and corporate jollies.

The 27-year-old knows his credibility hinges on providing events packages which are fun and safe so he puts a strong emphasis on responsible partying. He has taken care to select only reputable, established activity suppliers.

He said: "I have been down West Street on a Saturday night so I know what goes on and a lot of my customers would be put off by that - but the problem seems to come from people who have been drinking all day.

"That's why I want to promote responsible partying by selling activities like paintballing or go-karting so people on stag and hen parties have something to do during the day, they don't just head straight for the pub."

A visit to his web site - www.partycentraluk.com - reveals a broad range of activities from pampering at a health spa and erotic dance lessons to wind-

surfing and sailing and VIP entrance to nightclubs.

Working from home and with very little start-up capital, Andrew often doubted whether he could turn his dream into a reality but, after a long slog, the site is up and running and taking about three orders a week.

He said: "I realised restricting the business to Brighton and Hove would not work financially so I decided to go nationwide which meant a lot of work."

"I have managed to link up with more than 200 suppliers across the UK and the web site now offers about 600 different party packages.

"At the moment I am doing everything myself but when the orders start coming in I will have to employ people to help run the business, it's inevitable."

Andrew has been careful to create a universal brand which will mean as much to someone living in Manchester as someone living in London.

He also invested time and money on a "search engine optimisation" training course to help attract as much online custom as possible.

The idea is by using key words and phrases and a bit of technical know-how you can steer internet-users to your web site.

With more than three billion web sites fighting tooth and claw for custom this is increasingly important for people who set up online businesses.

But Party Central's real selling point is customers can tailor-make their own day with a piece of software called Package Creator which Andrew one day hopes to patent.

It works like an online shopping cart where customers can add their choice of activities, transport and accommodation to create their own activity days or weekend.

Andrew was previously a manager in the UK and overseas leisure industry.

He used to run the gym at the Hilton Metropole, Brighton, before joining a Spanish events company in the Canary Islands where he organised activities for holiday makers.

On his return from the Canaries in 2003 he recognised the growing demand for organised breaks and, paradoxically, that people had less time to arrange them.

When he decided to take the plunge and work for himself, Andrew was put in contact with the Brighton office of InBiz by consultants at business support group Working Links.

InBiz is the national business support which helps people move from unemployment into self-employment and Andrew said he had a lot to thank it for.

He said: "From the very start InBiz had confidence in me was extremely supportive."

Its confidence was rewarded last month when Andrew launched the business. Through word of mouth alone he has had 12 bookings.

Although Party Central UK is a national company, every activity and package it offers is organised at a local level and so benefits the economies of the cities in which it takes place.

Andrew wants Party Central to expand into Europe and be recognised as the top provider of group activity holidays. It might sound like a lofty ambition but he has already planted the seeds for UK domination.

Party Central UK operates in Brighton, Birmingham, Bourne-mouth, Bristol, Blackpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottinghamshire and Sheffield and Andrew is looking to expand to Newquay and York. Watch this space.

Thursday, August 25, 2005