Lamp in Leamington closes

The venue’s management team had been preparing for a hearing for the change of use of the building in October and were confident permission would be granted for the application, which had cost them almost £2,000 including flood and noise surveys.

But at the end of last week they were told by landlord Warwick District Council to cease trading with immediate effect for reasons yet to be explained by the authority.

Events, including Leamington Comedy Festival and the Leamington Underground Cinema Festival, will now have to find alternative venues for the shows which were due to take place at the Adelaide Road site.

Artistic director Timothy Ellis said: “Everything has been wiped out in a day, it is unbelievable.

LAMP, a non-profit social enterprise, opened in February 2013 after the district council paid £90,000 towards renovating and rewiring the former Sea Caddets club building while Mr Ellis said he put £28,000 of his own money towards the work.

The venue, which had a license to serve alcohol and stage live music, had hosted various events including gigs and comedy night and had a full line-up of shows advertised on its website before the closure.

It also ran a GCSE alternative educational programme in the daytime for disadvantaged youths.

Mr Ellis said: “We think there’ll be a tidal wave of support for us because a lot of people benefitted from what we did.

“We’d love to set up elsewhere but we’re just not sure where.”

More to follow.