Owner of Bury St Edmunds venue The LP, set to close permanently, 'threw everything at the business to try and keep it going'

The owner of a popular Bury St Edmunds bar and nightclub which is to close permanently after being hit by the coronavirus restrictions said he had 'thrown everything' at the business to try to keep it going.

Mike Garling announced today that The LP, in Woolhall Street, will shut following a 'difficult year'.

In a statement to staff, Mr Garling said the venue, which also has a restaurant, 'lost a lot of money' and the late night element, closed since the start of the pandemic, was 'an essential part of the business'.

After 'only receiving a fraction of the support necessary' - about 25 per cent - he said he had 'no other choice' but to close The LP after more than 10 years in the town.

"I have thrown everything I have at this to try and keep it going," Mr Garling said. "I've not got the resources to continue."

In the message to staff, he said: "I cannot thank you enough for your contribution and work, and indeed all those involved in the business from day one are included in this sentiment.

"The LP has been a special place to be. At times it has been bursting at the seams with people, happiness, dancing and laughter. Having worked locally like this for 18 years I am proud of our legacy.

"It's been a place where people have fallen in love, celebrated their weddings, commiserated those precious ones they have lost, partied on their birthdays, met friends for life, eaten great food, drunk the best cocktails, and we've supported good causes like the Wolf and World War One trails, local people, charities and sports clubs."

Mr Garling said by chance the soon to be X Factor winner Matt Cardle sang at LP's opening night but 'it's the average person on an average day out that we have sought to please'.

"My only contribution has been to try to provide a tolerant, safe atmosphere for this to happen in," he added.

"Seeing huge queues of people waiting to get in or hearing people say what a great time they had has showed that what we did was needed and loved by many."

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