A NEWTON Abbot club which suffered thousands of pounds damage when a fire swept through its ground floor in September has been given a face-lift.
The ground floor of Highweek Family and Social Club will re-open for functions and skittles again tomorrow.
Club members have rallied round to get the building revamped as quickly as possible.
Tickets have already gone on sale for the club's new year party.
joint chairman Pam Peardon said: 'We have risen like a phoenix from the ashes, like we promised, and we look forward to welcoming old and new members to our club.'
Anne Elson, the stewardess, said: 'We've had to have the electric rewired, a new suspended ceiling put in, and we have got a new carpet and floor tiles.
'We will open the ground floor tomorrow for a 90th birthday, but the official reopening will take place on January 24,'
Because of the thick wooden ceilings, the first floor was relatively unscathed, and stayed open. But the stewardess said trade had suffered, though she added: 'We hope to be back on top very soon.'
Both the local pigeon and koi carp clubs will be going back to use the club's ground floor facilities.
The club's six skittle teams, who compete in the Newton Abbot and District Skittles League, had to play on other alleys, but will be back at their home venue from now on.
'The skittles will be back up here from Monday. Now we are back in business, we even have room for more skittle teams to come up here if any are interested.
'We have room for another team on a Monday, two on a Tuesday and two on a Friday.
'We also welcome anyone who would like to join the family orientated club,' said Mrs Elson.
Mrs Peardon said: 'We would like to thank the director of the club, Ashley Dawes, for all his help and the new committee who have been very supportive.
'We also like to mention Mark, from Olympus Construction, who made sure work was carried out as quickly as possible so we could reopen.'
The fire destroyed the club's winter supply for its wood burner and the club is appealing to anyone who could give it some wood to burn, no matter how little.
If you could spare some, contact Highweek Family and Social Club on 01626 361092.