Nightclub latest victim of rents and recession

MORE high profile casualties of the recession and high rents in Town emerged yesterday.

Rogues Nightclub and Irish bar Claddagh will close on Monday night.

The Ordinary Division of the Royal Court yesterday ordered Guernsey Nightclubs Ltd to leave the premises by Tuesday.

The company owed landlord Castle Properties Ltd more than £16,000 in rent.

Guernsey Nightclubs proprietor Martin Rogan (pictured) said he had struggled to keep both open for a long time.

'It is an absolute relief,' he said. 'I just couldn't keep paying the rent.'

Guernsey Nightclubs was paying about £3,000 a week - £428 a day or £156,000 a year - for both premises.

'Owing £16,000 in rent costs may seem a lot, but when you consider that we have been running the club for 10 years and that is only one month and a week's rent,' he said.

'People forget that on top of that we have insurance costs of £20,000 per year, plus we have to pay security staff at £13 an hour, plus other things.'

Mr Rogan said landlords in general could be more understanding and work with tenants during the economic downturn.