Ivy Leaf to close and is up for sale

The Ivy Club in Whittlesey is expected to close in July.

The land currently housing the town centre social and entertainment venue has been put on the market for £895,000.

The social club is set to close on or around July 4 after a vote from members. Support for the decision to close and sell the site required a 75% majority.

Membership numbers have dwindled to 40 active members, according to chairman Mark Smith.

He said: "The club will remain open for a few weeks to to allow us to host the last few functions, service some member requests and finalise some issues. We will look to close around the July 4..

“The property and land sale may take some months/ years. At the end of the sale all creditors will be paid off, taxes paid and then any monies left will be distributed amongst the club’s paid-up members.

“Delivering this message gives me no pleasure at all. I am saddened to have to close the club, I can assure you that the committee, officers and I have done our best. The hard facts are the club isn’t taking the monies it needs to operate and with only 40 active members this simply isn’t sustainable.”

The land at Gracious Street - which has no permission for any future developments - has now appeared for sale online.

A message from Scott Stewart Personal Estate Agents, states: “Calling all developers, investors or anyone who had ideas of what they’d like to do to improve the local amenity. The Ivy Leaf Club is hitting the market at £895,000. There is no planning permissions but it is a town centre location surrounded by local amenities and housing.”