A POPULAR venue loved for its DJs, club nights and sporting events has revealed it will be closing its doors for good in under two weeks. 

Players Lounge, in Radford Way, Billericay, confirmed to disappointed punters it was shutting after five years in business. 

The venue, which combined a bar and restaurant, will close on September 1. 

A spokesman for the Players Lounge said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Players Lounge’s doors.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our incredible staff and loyal customers over the years and for making Players Lounge such a vibrant part of the Billericay community.

“Your support has meant the world to us.

“All customers with existing bookings at Players Lounge will be contacted directly and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

“Thank you for the unforgettable memories.”

The unit in Radford Way was formerly known as 1st Bowl and Eddies before then – both bowling alleys that went defunct.

Burlesque artist, Victoria Louise, will be the final person to perform at the Players Lounge.

She said: “It hit everyone at the same time, I was called in today to say that they will still open and saw the statement go up as I got into my car, and they were meeting me to reassure me it would go ahead.

“I am grateful they recognise that we would have lost £3,000 and we are grateful but it is sad knowing their staff won’t be there, they are opening the doors with agency staff.

“I am an independent burlesque artist and the thing about the industry is that people come far and wide for certain lineups, we have people coming from Leeds and Ipswich for this.

“I am also gutted as this is the second show of our residency there, it is a really sad and heartbreaking situation for me and I never perform in Essex, there is no Essex burlesque.”