Birmingham business GB Holdings has added another Southside venue to it portfolio with the acquisition of the former Purple Bar & Lounge for an undisclosed sum.

Purple Bar on Hurst Street closed its doors in August and will reopen under the new name of Queer on September 27 following a £150,000 redevelopment.

This is the latest acquisition for Lawrence Barton and his family business GB Holdings, which has a turnover of between £4-£5 million.

The company rescued the Nightingale Club from administration 10 months ago and also runs the Loft Lounge, Penthouse, and Village Inn venues in Southside.

David Nash, group operations director for GB Holdings, said: “Some time ago we identified a gap in the market place for customers within Birmingham’s gay village.

“The acquisition of the site presents us with a unique opportunity to deliver an offer that we believe will enhance and improve the choice currently available within the gay village and Southside.”

Mr Barton, who is also director of Birmingham Pride and sits on the Southside BID board, added: “It is my long-term aspiration to establish Birmingham as one of the UK’s leading destinations for gay customers.

“Each of the venues we run in Southside presents a strong and distinctly different offer for customers regardless of being gay or straight, however our aim with the latest venture is to reclaim the word Queer and open a venue which further enhances the variety of Birmingham’s gay village.”

GB Holdings was founded 17 years ago by Mr Barton’s mother Gill and his co-director brother Darren Barton and employs more than 200 people.

Mr Barton is also a director at work based learning company GB Training (UK), based at Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham.

GB Training (UK) is a main sponsor of Birmingham Pride which annually attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the city each year.