End of an era: Funny Girls changes hands

The biggest scene news of the year: Funny Girls has changed hands. After more than thirty years, the Dickson Road drag cabaret has been sold to a team with a theatre background and bars and venues across the UK. The venue had been marketed at £3.5 million.

It's the end of an era after a fantastic run, a story that goes back to 1979 and the Flamingo club. Funny Girls itself opened in 1994 on Queen Street before moving into the former Odeon on Dickson Road, a Grade II listed art deco cinema that first opened in May 1939.

What changes, and what doesn't

The new team say they want to keep everything that made Funny Girls famous, but with a more modern take. The plans include:

• a bigger stage and a new runway to bring performers closer to the audience
• a more hi-tech show for people new to drag
• improvements to the restaurant and the rest of the building

The new team are clear they see Funny Girls as one of the very best drag venues anywhere. Fan favourite Miss Scarlett is also back on stage for the first time in six years.