Council disappointed by nightclub closures

A city council said it was disappointed after the quickfire announcements that two night-time venues would close.

Sports bar Walkabout, which opened in Chelmsford in 2016, and nearby nightclub Popworld which opened in 2018, will shut this summer.

Both venues in the city's Backnang Square are owned by Stonegate Group, which thanked customers "for their loyalty and support over the years".

"It is very disappointing to hear that two established, hard-working and popular venues will soon be closing," said a Chelmsford City Council spokesperson.

"Both businesses will be missed by many residents and visitors, and their colleagues in Chelmsford's night-time economy. "

The two closures were announced in the space of two days.

"I think it will be a really big hole in the city's night-time economy," said Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford.

"Bars and restaurants, they come and go, but this has been a feature of the centre of Chelmsford for quite some time now and it seems to have really come out of the blue as well."

Goldman said there were still plenty of bars, restaurants and independent venues in the area, and suggested that businesses struggling to turn over a profit was countrywide problem.

A Stonegate Group spokesperson said Walkabout would shut on 13 July and Popworld on 2 August.

"We'd like to thank all our guests for their loyalty and support over the years - it's been a pleasure to welcome you through our doors," they said.

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