IT’S been a good year for the Thekla. Not only has it been given a new lease of life after spending a couple of months in dry dock being refurbished, but it has now been short listed as one of the country’s best small music venues.

Once again the Thekla has been nominated for the NME Best Small Venue in the UK award. And the boat-turned-music-venue topped the South West’s poll for the second year running.

The award is initially voted for by NME readers until it reaches the short listing stage, where judges from the music industry will then take over to finally decide an overall winner. The Thekla has been short listed in the small venue category, which includes UK venue’s with a capacity of 400 and under.

This year’s judges include musician Frank Turner; T In The Park and Glasgow’s King Tuts Wah Wah Hut promoter Geoff Ellis; Reading And Leeds Festival promoter Melvin Benn; Jo Dipple, head of UK Music; Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and NME’s editor Krissi Murison along with writers Mike Williams and Luke Lewis.

Thousands of votes were cast for hundreds of venues across the country, but the list has now been whittled down to just eight. The shortlist will now be put to a panel of judges, with the winner revealed on May 8 next year.

The Thekla is up against other small venues including the Norwich Arts Centre, Sebright Arms in Greater London, PJ Molloys in Scotland, Ramsgate Music Hall in the South East, and Think Tank in the North East.

Thekla Manager Michele Phillips said the short listing was a “nice pat on the back”.

She said: “We are delighted that the boat has been voted as best small venue in the South West by so many people. We do our utmost to ensure that everyone who comes to the Thekla has the best time possible and following the refit they’ll be able to do this in much nicer surroundings.

“This shortlisting is a nice pat on the back from the people who matter, the gig goers and clubbers who come to the Thekla.”

The Thekla returned to East Mud Dock in September after spending 13 weeks being refurbished.

While undergoing works, the famous Grim Reaper image by Banksy, inset left, was removed from the side of the boat and will go on display at the M shed before Christmas.