One of BT Group plc’s (LON:BT.A) redundant red phone boxes has been turned into the world’s smallest nightclub.
Many of the telecoms giant’s traditional phone boxes aren’t in use anymore, so BT came up with the ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ programme almost ten years ago which gives local authorities the chance to buy a box for a nominal fee of £1.
Most have turned into small art galleries, notice boards or book exchanges, but this one in Devon – the 5,000th kiosk to be ‘adopted’ – is believed to be the only one used as a disco.
Club 28 in Rotherham, with a capacity of seven people, previously held the ‘world’s smallest nightclub’ title, but the phone box has room for just one, or two at a squeeze.
Music lovers can pay £1 to listen to tracks such as Hanging on the Telephone by Blondie and Telephone Line by ELO, with all proceeds going to a local charity.
“The ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ programme has proved to be a huge success,” said BT Payphones commercial and operations manager Katherine Bradley.
“With use of payphones declining by more than 90% in the last decade, many phone boxes are no longer needed as working payphones. But villages and towns across the country have been keen to keep them because the red kiosks are often an integral part of the local community.”