Residents have labelled Chippenham a “ghost town” after dark following the news its last nightclub will close.
Club e11evn, on New Road, will close its doors on Saturday, February 1, after two decades at the heart of the town centre’s nightlife.
Speaking on Facebook, Wes, who has been at e11evn for over a decade, said the decision to close the club was made following a change in fortunes following the pandemic.
He said: “It was the hardest decision to make, and it was not taken lightly.
“We tried to diversify with band nights, the karaoke lounge, foam parties, and celebrity appearances, but after the pandemic, the change in customers was very apparent.
“We first had to close the cheese room upstairs, which was a massive blow.
“The cheese room used to draw in a large crowd every Friday and Saturday, with a wide age range from 18 to 50 years old, but after the pandemic, we found that it was mainly 18 to 21-year-olds coming out.”
READ MORE: Town's 'cornerstone' nightclub to close after industry decline
Wes added that by 10pm, when e11evn usually opens, there is little footfall in the town centre.
He said: “We open late at 10pm to give the other venues in the town trade, but when we open our doors, it’s like a ghost town.
“We are an independent business, and as such, we don’t have an endless pot of money like the big corporate companies.
“We’ve had some amazing nights, and we kept going for longer than anyone gave us credit for.
“We were proud of the club, and we loved every minute of it. Thank you to all of the staff who worked for us, it truly felt like a family, and it was my home for the last 12 years.”
SEE ALSO: Plan to overhaul 'dying' shopping centre divides residents
The announcement has sparked debate over the future of the town’s nightlife with many residents left disappointed at the loss of their last nightclub.
Adie Lanc said: “It’s terrible that this is even happening. Chippenham nightlife used to be amazing.
“Everyone knew each other, which meant you could go out with a couple of mates, and bump into groups of them. Diggers, Buds/Karma, E11evens, and now not one will remain.”
Many pointed to a steep decline in the number of late-night businesses over the last few decades.
Rachel White said: “The nightlife in Chippenham used to be fantastic say 15 years ago. Now it is literally dead.”
Claire Brind added: “Chippenham used to be the place to go. The streets were packed with people deciding which club to go to.
“Queues going on for miles. Now, it's a ghost town with nothing to offer any generation. It's a sad state of affairs.”
Town council leader Cllr Desna Allen told the BBC the town’s night-time economy was “thriving”.
Annette Waterfield added: “Three new businesses, The Waverley, Wine Monkey and La Vecchia Orsa all seem to be doing really well.”
Cllr Matthew Short added that the town council has acted to support businesses in the town centre whenever possible.
He said: “Where planning applications have come through for new venues, and during my time this is Wine Monkey, The Waverly, Bargammons, the new music venue next to Cousin Normans, I and other councillors have enthusiastically supported them across the board.
“No one regardless of political views has spoken against, because we all want the best for our town.
“The nightclubs aren't closing because of the town council, and it isn't only Chippenham which is seeing this trend.”
Share