Efforts to save The Bear Club have fallen short with Luton’s internationally-renowned jazz and blues club being forced to close in June.
In January, the freehold of the building on Guildford Street was put up for sale and advertised as one that could be turned into homes.
It left ownership duo Giles Willits and Neil Simmonds planning for the “worst case scenario”, which now looks likely to happen, despite community efforts in vain to buy time in order to come up with a bid for the freehold.
Updating supporters, the duo wrote: ‘We have sadly just been informed that the owners of the Bear Club building are entering into an agreement to sell their company to new shareholders in a deal that is expected to complete by the end of June. That company owns the freehold to the building.
‘We understand that the new owner does not wish to retain The Bear Club in the building once the deal is finalised and will want vacant possession when our lease terminates at the end of June. Unless we can find an alternative home, this will mean we will be forced to close The Bear Club at the end of June.
‘Following the incredible show of support at Wednesday’s meeting for a community-led solution, we had hoped that we could buy some time to come up with a bid for the freehold on behalf of the community but it seems that this will not now be possible.
‘This is the result we feared and is why, following the meeting, the club’s supporters submitted forms to Luton Borough Council nominating the building as an asset of community value (ACV) which was a long shot aimed at delaying the sale to allow the community to bid. Unfortunately, we understand that the sale, as structured, would render the ACV process ineffective, as it is not the building itself that is now being sold but the private company that owns it.
‘We are of course immensely disappointed to bring you this news. We will continue to consider other options and will update you if and when these develop. In the meantime, the club remains very much open for business. We have a fantastic program lined up and we look forward to seeing you in the near future.
‘It ain’t over ‘til it’s over…..’
