A POPULAR Basildon nightclub has announced its closure with "immediate effect" with "staff made redundant". 

Unit 7, in Festival Leisure, Basildon, has confirmed it has closed after they were "forced to hand back the lease". 

In a statement, bosses say the team has sadly been made redundant as a result. 

The closure comes as its parent company, Rekom UK, confirmed it has appointed administrators.

Peter Marks, chairman of REKOM UK: “Following a review of our business, we were unable to reach an agreement with our landlord and have been forced to hand back the lease of Unit 7, Basildon.

"Sadly, this means the club has closed and our team has been made redundant.

“While we understand the impact this will have on the local late-night economy, it’s important to recognise that this decision follows an extremely difficult period for the sector, due to the combination of the cost-of-living crisis hitting younger generations and students particularly hard, as well as the rising costs including the national minimum wage which particularly affects Hospitality, alongside increased business rates and many other costs of operating.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our guests and teams who have made Unit 7 such an iconic venue for a great night out over the years.”

Unit 7, Basildon’s largest remaining nightclub, has been popular with party-goers since it opened in 2015.