Variety club set to close down after 50 years

A VARIETY club in West yorkshire has closed down after 50 years and visits from Louis Armstrong and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Sports chain JD Gym is launching its newest site there, replacing the former Batley Variet Club.

James Corrigan, The Bachelors, Louis Armstrong, Dame Shirley Bassey and the Bee Gees played at the club, also called the Batley Frontier during the 1960’s and 70’s.

General manager Mr Westwell told the BBC: “It is, without question, a very sad time and we are truly sorry to be losing such an icon.

“We are very conscious that this will be quite emotive for many people and we understand the loss of any significant entertainment space can be extremely damaging to small towns in particular.”

“Since the turn of the century, the commercial entertainment landscape has changed and the demands for larger arenas, opposed to smaller style concert halls, has been prevalent.”

JD Sport recently spent £2m on another West Yorkshire gym located at Prospect Park in Leeds which will create 15 jobs.