TWO clubs - The Cavern in Liverpool and The Imperial in Eastleigh - are looming large in the mind of Mick Haly as he battles back from three years of debilitating illness.

For 52-year-old Mick, who fronts popular '60s revival band Peter Pod and the Peas, is preparing to go back on the road and play in the Liverpool home of The Beatles as well as giving his Eastleigh club a huge boost.

Back in the early 60s the Imperial was well known for the stars who appeared at the venue above Burton's Menswear Store in Market Street - names that included Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, The Honey-combs, Billy Fury, Shane Fenton, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich and East-leigh's own Heinz Burt.

Three years ago the club rose like a phoenix from the ashes as the Imperial started a back-to-the-future revival with Mick as one of the men at the helm.

But he explained: "I took ill three years ago just as we opened the club. I was diagnosed with vasculitis which wastes the muscles and leads to a complete breakdown of the immune system.

"It put me out of action as far as the band and the club were concerned. I was only able to play a few limited gigs and couldn't help much at The Imperial. But I'm back now and we are going to go out on the road to

celebrate Peter Pod and the Peas' 20th anniversary next year."

Two dates already confirmed are The Cavern and The Imperial and lead singer Mick - who has been in the entertainment business all his life - says he is raring to go.

"I have been recording for the last eight to ten months and have a new single called Please Stay, which was originally done by the Crying Shames. It will be out in the next couple of weeks and I decided to release it as a thank you to everybody."

Mick has also been working on an album, appropriately called There and Back Again, and says he has also compiled all the

Peter Pod and the Peas recordings into a two-CD album which will be available shortly.

He is also devoting his energy to lining up some top quality entertainment for The Imperial, which celebrates its third anniversary this month.

He said: "For some reason rumours have gone round the town that the place is going to close - but nothing could be further from the truth.

"We have had a few hiccups but we are not lying down. We have a re-structured management of myself and my partners Pete Luffman and Pete Hardy and our membership currently stands at 1,000 - so where the closure rumours have come from is a mystery."

There are plans to refurbish the club next year plus provide a line-up of new shows for 2004.

Details about club membership can be obtained by telephoning 023 8061 7241.