Ross Sanders, the founder of pub company Urban & Country Leisure (UCL), is to open a night club in London called "DIU".

The entrepreneur has raised £2m in funding for the new venture, which will be run as a separate entity to the UCL estate.

Located on Greek Street in the capital's Soho district, the club is scheduled to open in March.

The interior of the club has been designed by Tibbatts Kirk Abel, the company responsible for the décor at a number of London clubs, including Movida and Chinawhite.

Sanders said: "While Soho has been much maligned over the years, it very much represents the rich tapestry of London society where bohemia meets modernism, where fashion, music, TV, film, publishing and media all converge.

"The emphasis will be very much based on an intimate club experience.

While there has been talk of a crisis in London club land due to the current economic climate Sanders remains bullish.

"Like any business in the hospitality sector, its all about the offering, what you give to your customer, by way of product, its design, aesthetics, ambience and atmosphere.

"But most of all its your personal approach, the attention to detail, selecting the right location. Boutique clubs are very much back in vogue."

He added that the London venue could be the first in a portfolio of DIU-branded venues, as he's currently looking at possible sites to open one in New York, US.