Couples who met while on the dancefloor have reacted to the news an “iconic” nightclub will be shutting its doors for good.

ATIK Dartford closed earlier this week after the firm which runs it and several other clubs across the country called in administrators.

Staff at the three-room venue in Essex Road were only given the news on Monday night and were told they could only go in the next day to collect their belongings.

It comes after the UK’s largest nightclub operator Rekom UK announced plans to call in administrators due to higher bills amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The company has since confirmed to KentOnline it has failed to reach an agreement with its landlord and have been forced to hand back the lease of the Dartford club which means it has closed and its team has been made redundant.

The two-storey club has gone through numerous name changes over its four-decade history and has been known to generations of clubbers as Scala, Flicks, Air and Breathe and Zens and Library.

Following the club’s decision to shut several ex-revellers shared memories of fun times at the club with many having met their partners on its dance floor.

Samantha Goodison, who now lives in Rochester, met her husband there 11 years ago when it was called Air and Breathe.

She said: “It will always share a special place in our hearts. We went there a lot during the first two years of our relationship.”

Amy Avis also met her future husband Alun there in 2007.

The couple, who live in Dartford, now has a 10-year-old daughter, Emily.

The 46-year-old said: “It was always a busy hive of activity. Everyone flocked there after hours to carry on with their Friday or Saturday nights out.

“The club was split into two levels back then. The over-25s were upstairs, and the younger crowd downstairs.

“I had just turned 30 when I met Alun so upstairs was where we spent most of our time so as not to feel too old.

“I remember good music, laughter, Sambuca shots, and lots of dancing.”

Nina Horrod also met her husband there when it was called Zens and the couple have since gone on to have two children together.

“It’s so sad it is closed,” she said. “Thanks to a night out there one weekend in my twenties I met the love of my life and am now married with two beautiful children.”

Angie Winchester, from Dartford, also remembers the club fondly back when it was called Flicks.

“It holds a very special place in my heart.

“Flicks will always be etched on the history of both Dartford and nightclub history.”

Angie, 54, added: “Many generations have been served by that building from Scala, Flicks, Zen, Air and Breathe and now what seems ATIK finally.

“We had good times and never any fights it was just good music, good friends and good times.”

Peter Marks, Chairman of REKOM UK, said: “Following a review of our business, we were unable to reach an agreement with our landlord and have been forced to hand back the lease of ATIK Dartford.

“Sadly, this means the club has closed and our team has been made redundant.

“While we understand the impact this will have on the local late-night economy, it’s important to recognise that this decision follows an extremely difficult period for the sector, due to the combination of the cost-of-living crisis hitting younger generations and students particularly hard, as well as the rising costs including the national minimum wage which particularly affects Hospitality, alongside increased business rates and many other costs of operating.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our guests and teams who have made ATIK Dartford such an iconic venue for a great night out over the years.”