Several interested parties have contacted estate agents overseeing the sale of The Clipper at 81-82 St Thomas Street, it has emerged this week.

It comes after mystery lights were spotted in the window of the building on Sunday evening.

An estate agent at Goadsby Commercial overseeing the sale or lease of the Georgian Grade II listed building said there has been recent interest in the property - although at the time of writing, the former bar and nightclub remains on the market as no formal offer has been made.

The property is up for sale with offers invited in excess of £1.25 million. Alternatively it can be rented for £125,000 per annum.

'Mystery' lights in The Clipper (Image: David Goulden)

Grant Cormack, divisional director at Goadsby, said: “I have been down there in the last week – there have been a couple of recently interested parties who we are still talking to about the property - but at the moment it is still available on the market to buy or to let.”

However Mr Cormack was in the dark as to why the upper floor was lit up on Sunday and said a viewing was not being held at the time. 

We also contacted Weymouth BID, who were unable to shine any light on the matter - however Chief Operations Officer Dawn Rondeau said that the BID would welcome any business coming to the town that would be sympathetic to the history of the building.

Once at the heart of Weymouth’s nighttime economy, The Clipper – formerly Barracuda and The Rectory – closed down in October 2013 when its owners The Bramwell Pub group went into administration.

At the time the Echo reported how lunchtime drinkers at The Clipper were asked to leave suddenly as administrators closed the premises – never to reopen to the public.

The Clipper in its heyday before the venue closed down (Image: Dorset Echo)

In its heyday as The Rectory during the 00s the bar and nightclub was one of Weymouth’s highlight evening venues. 

David Goulden - who spotted the lights on at the building on Sunday - was a resident DJ there and has fond memories of the venue.

“It's a prominent building of historical significance in the town," Mr Goulden said. "It would be good to see someone take it on and show it the love it deserves. It's a shame to see it fall slowly back into dereliction as it used to be prior to the redevelopment of the area in 1999.”

The Rectory was a popular nightspot among local clubbers in Weymouth (Image: Newsquest)

The Rectory closed down in 2006 with its owners citing two difficult winter trading periods. The venue was bought by South African pub chain Barracuda and reopened that year following a £1.25 million refurbishment - only to change hands again for the final time in 2010, when it became The Clipper.

Originally Weymouth's rectory, the building was uncovered during demolition of the old Gaumont Cinema. 

The elegant five-storey property includes a three-bedroomed flat, previously used as owners accommodation, as well as a large courtyard at the front for outside seating.

Anyone interested in the sale or lease of the building can contact estate agents Goadsby on 01202 550000.