BACUP Hub has been closed and boarded up after landlords called in bailiffs to seize the building.

Police were called to the site, Rossendale’s biggest entertainment venue, at around 7.30am on Friday to assist in a ‘civil matter’.

It is understood bailiffs took possession of the building on the instruction of the landlord Catherine Chadwick.

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The day-to-day management of Bacup Hub, in Burnley Road, was taken over by former pub landlords Jim and Jane Doidge, Pauline Clawson and Ken Brown in June.

The venue hosts concerts, sports events, private parties and is used by many societies and clubs.

The new team were calling the venue Broadwater Hall as they sought to rebrand and revitalise the venue.

Owner of the building, Catherine Chadwick, said: “The group leasing the Bacup Hub failed to honour its obligations. To prevent any further losses to both them and myself the difficult decision was made to repossess the building on Friday.”

The notice posted on the Hub’s official Facebook page yesterday, read: “This is to inform you all that with immediate effect Bacup Leisure Hall CIC T/A Broadwater Hall are no longer operating within the Bacup Hub.

“Anyone with deposits or events need to contact the directors of Bacup Leisure Hall CIC T/A Broadwater Hall to reclaim their deposits, the owner of the Hub is not responsible for these or aware of what will happen about these.

“Please note that this building is covered by red care security and CCTV, there is no money held on the premises.

“The owner of the Bacup Hub will inform the community in due course what is to happen to the building, until this is decided she would like to thank the community for their patience and support over the last five years.”

A spokesperson for the tenants declined to comment on the sudden closure and said a statement would be made next week.

The closure has caused consternation among those who have booked events there.

One person contacting their Facebook page said she was panicking because she had a children’s party booked this weekend.

Another, Rachael Chadwick, said: “Is this a joke?

“I’m holding a fundraiser there in November for our charity.”