A SOCIAL Club in Ellesmere Port, which has been running for more than 50 years, will be closing at the end of this month.

St Saviour's Social Club on Tarporley Road in Great Sutton has been hosting birthdays, weddings and christenings in their function room for several years.

They also have a smaller bar area, where 'members' of the club meet weekly for karaoke, football and to socialise. The club's football, dart, pool and domino teams have all had to move to other pubs to continue in their leagues.

On February 1, the club's operation's manager, Phil Black wrote the following in a Facebook post: "It is with great regret that we herein announce that due to pressures of continuing rising costs to the business and in particular those costs associated with energy, i.e., gas-electric, lighting, and heating SDCC. Ltd will be closing St Saviours Parish Centre as of close of business on Tuesday, February 28 2023.

"We would like to thank you all for your custom and support over the years.

"We wish you all the best for the future."

Andy Dawson, who has been coming to the club for 29 years, spoke to the Globe about the closure.

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He said: "The closure notice just came out of the blue. We're seeing old and new faces.

"We just want a chance to try and open up a dialogue with the church to keep it going."

Andy has set up a petition, which currently has over 200 signatures to try and save the club from closing.

He added: "The place is going from strength to strength. We've just been left in the dark. It really is the heart of the Great Sutton community."

In a comment to the Globe, Phil Black said: "We're closing it on commercial grounds. The club itself will remain with the parish and the priest. 

"There are not enough people using the club on a commercial basis so we have to close it."

The social club will close for the final time on February 28. The buildings will revert back to parish responsibility.