A seafront ex-servicemen’s club has gone bust for the second time in less than two years.

The United Forces Social Club in Central Parade ceased trading on Sunday night after commemorating 70 years since D-Day landings.

The chairman Michael Britton said that the club had racked up huge debts under the previous administration when it was known as the May Lodge Club, which closed in July 2012.

Mr Britton took over as chairman in March 2013 and began efforts to try to restore the club’s precarious finances.

He said: “We formed a committee to take on the club and were presented with substantial debts at that time.

“We have made substantial cost savings over the year, but we have been advised to cease trading on the basis that if we continued we would be in breach of the law.

“On Sunday night we got the accounts structured by an accountant. We’ve made all the effort to build up the club in the community.

“But we never hit the successful point of being able to pay off previous bills and make the business successful and viable.

“Bob and I have worked extremely hard on this, so as you can imagine we are devastated. Tired and devastated.”

In April we reported that single mum Gemma Marshall, 24, had won £6,000 from the club at an employment tribunal for sex discrimination.

Mr Britton at the time said he feared the consequences for the club. But today said that trustees of the May Lodge property trust are meeting to consider the future.

He added: “It may be that we can achieve something. We will have to see the lawyers and find out if we can do something positive.”

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