Constitutional Club in Bury St Edmunds to close after 138 years

A Bury St Edmunds venue has announced it will close after 138 years of trading.

The Constitutional Club, in Guildhall Street, will open its doors for the last time on Saturday.

Emma Warren, chairperson of the club, said it had been forced to shut as it was no longer making a profit and had suffered as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

She said: “I’m absolutely gutted. It’s a place where lots of people go, lots of functions happen and people have made lots of memories.

“There’s lots at stake in making this decision and it certainly hasn’t been an easy one.”

The club has 319 members and employs one full time member of staff as well as five who work part time.

Last year, the club hosted the town’s first LGBTQ+ pride festival, which more than 200 people attended, and has held monthly discos for adults with special needs.

It has also been a venue for beer festivals, private events, birthday parties, wedding receptions and wakes as well as performances by local bands.

Miss Warren said: “It’s a real community place where there’s lots of involvement from a diverse range of people.”

The closure announcement was made on Saturday at a members meeting.

“It’s very sad,” she said.

“We just want to thank all of the members, staff and past and present committee members who have supported the club over all of these years. It wouldn’t have happened without everybody and it’s a shame it has all ended.”

Miss Warren has been chairperson of the club for more than two years and became involved as her friends socialised there.

Asked what her proudest moment has been, she said the pride festival was the most amazing event she had organised.

She said they did not know what would happen with the pride festival this year following the closure.

“I think just seeing people come into the club who wouldn’t necessarily feel a belonging,” said Miss Warren.

“We’ve quite a lot of adults with learning disabilities who use the club and they’ve said to me it feels like a very safe place to come.

“For me that’s really nice and when they’re in the club playing pool and games it isn’t a them and us, it’s very integrated and it doesn’t matter who you are.

“It’s the sort of place I could happily walk into on my own and I know there’s a friendly face there I could have a drink with.”

There will be half price drinks for members on Saturday.