Eastleigh'S Imperial Members Club has been closed - leaving about 350 members without a nightspot to call their own.

A full Christmas and new year programme, including a New Year's Eve party night, had been advertised but have now been cancelled.

The club was launched four years ago with the promise of breathing new life into the town's entertainment scene while providing a social club for over-25s and somewhere Eastleigh fam-ilies could relax and enjoy themselves.

It rekindled a once-famous name in the world of Eastleigh entertainment.

Four decades ago the Imperial Ballroom above Burton's Menswear in Market Street provided a 60s stage for some of the biggest pop names of the day.

The Imperial Members' Club was opened at the same venue and enjoyed a successful start with more than 1,000 members signing up in the first year.

But Peter Luffman - who was one of an initial team of four partners in the business - told the Daily Echo that there had been "mismanagement and financial irregularities" some 18 months ago which had left the club with a large debt.

He said: "Although it was a profitable business, the debt was crippling us and we couldn't continue in that vein any longer. We called in an insolvency company."

Mr Luffman, who is an Eastleigh borough councillor, said the club had closed earlier this month but negotiations were currently under way with a prospective purchaser and it was hoped the Imperial would reopen again quite quickly.

He added: "The main thing is that whoever takes it over will honour the membership for this year, so club members will not lose out.

"The club should still continue, but I don't expect that the three remaining directors will be there to continue the adventure into the future."

Besides reviving the Imperial's glory days of the 60s with tribute bands, cabaret acts and discos, the club also launched its own football, netball and darts teams, got involved in the Eastleigh carnival parade and provided a base for Saints supporters living in the Eastleigh area.

"People told us it was a viable business and a facility which was much needed in the town. But we just couldn't continue trying to pay off the debt we had been left with. It was crippling us," said Mr Luffman.

"It is very disappointing and upsetting for all of us who were involved - but, unfortunately, everything is now out of our hands."