Club 85 landlord and owner Jas Lidder has shared a statement with Nub News on why he is closing the iconic live music venue in Hitchin.

The move comes after Nub news broke the story that the legendary site on Whinbush Road is to be demolished.

According to planning documents, plans have been formulated to demolish 74 Whinbush Road (the official address of Club 85) and replace the venue with a residential development comprising of 16 apartments (5 x 1 bedroom and 11 x 2 bedrooms).

The proposals shocked many in Hitchin and beyond, after the venue established itself over a wonderful venue for all forms of live music.

As reported by Nub News late on Tuesday evening, manager Bob Mardon opened up as to the reasons why - and now landlord Mr Lidder has echoed those statements.

Read on for Mr Lidder's explanation in full at Nub News.

It's with a heavy heart that Jas & Ranjit Lidder, owners of Club 85 have announced they plan to retire by 2025, writes Jas Lidder

As the longest-standing landlords in Hitchin, both have served the community for a total of 60 years.

It wasn't an easy decision for the owners, but the most important thing in life is your health and mental wellness.

Therefore, it's time for both to enjoy their life after working 70+ hours per week for multiple years. 

We can assure you that every option was explored and evaluated, but we've decided the best choice was to develop the site. The decision wasn't easy for both after all the hard work that the family has put into Club 85 since 1985 and the sacrifices to make it the best community hub in the area.

We'd like to additionally pass our thanks on to Bob Mardon for the last 20 years, his hard work and dedication have led to Club 85 being the best live music venue in the area. We will both support Bob in developing a new grassroots venue.

Lastly, we'd like to thank all the great people who have come through the doors over the last 38 years and becoming a part of the Club 85 family.

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