IT will be last orders at St Benedict’s Club on Sunday when the towels go on the taps for the last time at the popular Batchley venue.
The Catholic Church has called time on the venue after 60 years serving the local area and a number of community groups and clubs.
However regulars have hit out at the suddenness of the decision, based on a hotly disputed feasibility study whoch found the club needs an immediate £75,000 cash injection and a further £200,000 for structural repairs.
“It’s disgusting – we paid £5,000 to get the bar upgraded on the Church’s recommendation and had new electrics fitted, which left us financially embarrassed and now they’re closing the place down,” said longstanding member John Barrett.
Another regular user, Liz Clarke, added: “So much goes on here – where are all the groups that use it go?
“This club has been going successfully for over 40 years and was very well run, but now we appear to have lots of staff and no customers.”
Local man Andy Turner said: “If it’s losing money I can understand why the Church would be closing the bar but there are so many people who do not use the bar but do use the facilities.
“There’s a seniors group who are on their own which has people from the Church which uses the centre – it’s the highlight of their week to come here.
“Then there’s the special needs groups who come here – it’s the commercial side that has struggled.”
