Jobs axe for 75 staff as Oceana club shuts in Wolverhampton

The Oceana nightclub in Wolverhampton has closed down with the loss of 75 jobs. The club in Bilston Street shut in the early hours of yesterday.

Owners Luminar went into administration in October with debts of £140 million.

Manager Mark Hickey, in a message on social networking website Facebook, said today: "I can hand on heart say that this decision was not taken lightly and since going into administration we have done everything possible to keep the club alive and evidence of this was amazing growth in our nights over the last few months – unfortunately we have simply just run out of time and been the victims of demands placed on us from outside sources.

"Personally from an outsider coming into the city 18 months ago I was unsure exactly what Wolves would be able to offer me but 99.9 per cent of people around here have been fantastic to have as customers and friends."

Leader of Wolverhampton City Council Roger Lawrence said: "It's very sudden and obviously bad news. We hope someone else will come along but it doesn't help the people who were employed there."