MR TWITCHETT'S Coffee House & Bar is set to cease daytime trading after a decision from Stroud District Council following a £30,000 loss last year.

SDC had stated on Tuesday that the closure of the cafe, which is housed in the Sub Rooms, was in consultation after it made £30,000 in losses last year.

The venue's communications manager Sarah Phaedre Watson disputed this claim, citing that staff had been given redundancy letters and the cafe would be closed during the day by April 1.

They stated that the consultation period would last until March 24 and the closure of the cafe was not a foregone conclusion and did not relate to the ongoing debate over the future of the Sub Rooms as a venue.

However it came to light yesterday evening that the cafe will now be closed during daytime hours by SDC officers as an "operational" matter.

Stroud District Cllr Martin Baxendale (Green, Stroud Valley) is on the task and finish group looking into the future of the Sub Rooms as a council-owned arts venue.

He said: "The decision has been made, by officers as an "operational" matter, without the councillors working on the future of the Sub Rooms being informed it was coming."

"The group of councillors whose responsibility it is to look at the options for the future of the Sub Rooms hasn't made any decision about the cafe, and doesn't have the power to make any decisions at all about the Subs.

"They're only working to find out what might be possible, encourage public input and potential bids from people interested in taking it over, and report back to the council.

"Everything is still being looked at, including the council continuing to run it (with the option of investment in a new sound system, improved bars etc that would boost income).

"I'm on that group and our hope is that the Subs can be kept open as a centre for the arts and culture, for the benefit of the community.

“This has come at the worst possible time, just as we're waiting for people to put in expressions of interest in taking on or helping with future management of the Subs and hopefully keeping it going as a community asset.

“It sends out completely the wrong message at this delicate point in time - that the Subs is a basket case that no-one should touch with a barge pole, which it most certainly isn't."

"There are ways that running costs could be reduced and income increased, and no-one should be put off putting in an expression of interest in taking over or being involved in the operation of the building as a community asset, despite this news.”

Replying to the now former communications manager Ms Watson on Facebook, SDC Cllr Skeena Rathor (Lab, Stroud Central), said: "Sadly for me as your local councillor I am not directly part of the decision making process around the sub rooms although I would have liked to have been.

"What is more is that the councillors who are part of the decision making body were not aware of the decision until this week. So its flummoxing and I will investigate."

Ms Watson had initially shared the news on the Subscription Rooms Facebook page.

Following this she posted on her personal Facebook account: "Mr Twitchetts makes a profit, there is no reason for it to be closed. Could it make more money with some investment? (Both time and money) yes, undoubtedly. But day time trade in the cafe, makes money.

"Mr Twitchetts and the staff are not 'in consultation' staff members have been made redundant, it is a foregone conclusion which there is 'no point fighting'.

"No job, or wage, is worth 'keeping quiet about' something as important as this."

Named after a former caretaker at the venue, the cosy bar offered light meals, hot drinks, spirits, wine and beer from Stroud Brewery as well as regular live entertainment.

Bev Tanner, Subscription Rooms manager said: “We would like to thank all of our customers for their loyalty over the years, it’s been an absolute pleasure to see so many people from this town, as well as our visitors from outside the area enjoy our hospitality.

“We’re saddened that the council has made this decision, when the cafe is such an integral part of the building, and we had so many plans to develop it further for family and community group use.

“We’d like to include a special mention for our dedicated team, some of whom have worked here for over seven years, they’ll be missed.”

The café had employed eight people and welcomed 500 customers each week.