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A campaign has been launched to save a debt-ridden social club from closure after members were told it was to shut in its 100th year.
Bosses of the Ex-Servicemen’s Club in William Street, Herne Bay, want to lock its doors for good amid “a huge and rapid decline” in income, which has been accelerated by the pandemic.
They say the historic venue, which has not sold a pint since March 2020, must close now in order to preserve its “good name” – or risk not being able to pay off its creditors.
But members have pledged to do “everything we can to save the club”, saying its closure would see the loss of a community.
Worried regular Diane Morley told KentOnline: “We want to keep this hub – it’s a lifeline.
“It’s been 100 years that this club has been open for, and we think it needs to go on. We love it.”
The 70-year-old added: “We haven’t given up as members.
“We’re going to do everything we can to save this club.
“It needs a new committee, which we’re prepared to form, and new blood to get this club up and running again. We feel we could make it work.
“It’s a community, and we’d lose that.”
Pensioner Mick Ayton has been a member of the club for the last 24 years, visiting up to four times a week.
“It’s the oldest ex-servicemen’s club in the country,” the 81-year-old said.
“It’s extremely friendly in there - everyone knows everybody. People go in there to play snooker and billiards.
“It was just a nice place to be. It was one big family. It would be a great loss.”
However, members face an uphill battle to save the club, as the current committee says the business is unable to reopen.
“All avenues of bringing in money have been exhausted...”
In a letter to members, it wrote: “Due to a lack of custom in the years prior to the pandemic, and with the enforced closure of the last 12 months, we have seen a huge and rapid decline in the club’s income.
“At this present time, we can pay the debts to our creditors and meet staff redundancy payments.
“Any delay in closing the club will result in a further drain and depletion (of finances).
“The club will be in the most awful situation of closing down, in debt and not being able to pay its creditors and will lose the respect of its good name.”
The committee also says a raft of maintenance issues need to be rectified immediately, including rewiring the electrics, revamping the bar and giving the upstairs toilets a hot water supply.
Meanwhile, there are “major concerns regarding the safety of the cellar”, which is in need of significant repairs as draught beer cannot be pulled into glasses from barrels.
“The club has not made a profit for the last four years,” the letter continues.
“Due to a lack of custom in the years prior to the pandemic, and with the enforced closure of the last 12 months, we have seen a huge and rapid decline in the club’s income.
“The club cannot survive and is unable to reopen.
“All avenues of bringing in money have been exhausted.”
“The club has not made a profit for the last four years...”
The Ex-Servicemen’s Club was originally formed in 1921 to provide veterans with a place to congregate.
It is understood to have first been based in King’s Road, before moving to its current site in William Street, which had been a bakery.
Members have been asked to vote on whether the club should close. The result of the poll will be revealed after the July 19 deadline.
KentOnline attempted to speak with committee president Barry Church, but he hung up the phone when called.
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