The North Hertfordshire venue hosted iconic British artists during its run, including Glen Matlock of Sex Pistols and Neville Staple of The Specials. Club 85’s landlord and owner, Jas Lidder, told Hitchin Nub News, “It wasn’t an easy decision.”

The venue has served the Hitchin community for 60 years, with Lidder going on to further explain the difficult decision in his statement for Hitchin Nub News. Lidder wrote, “The most important thing in life is your health and mental wellness. Therefore, it’s time for both [Jas & Ranjit Lidder] to enjoy their life after working 70+ hours per week for multiple years.”

Lidder continued, “We can assure you that every option was explored and evaluated, but we’ve decided the best choice was to develop the site. The decision wasn’t easy for both after all the hard work that the family has put into Club 85 since 1985 and the sacrifices to make it the best community hub in the area.”

This news comes shortly after NME reported that the UK is set to lose 10% of its grassroots music venues in 2023. 67 venues have already closed this year, with a further 90 currently working with MVT’s Emergency Response. It is predicted that half of these will be closed, marking a 10% loss in venues this year alone.

Club 85’s Lidder pointed towards a potential new grassroots venue project in the works for his colleague Bob Mardon however, writing, “We’d like to additionally pass our thanks on to [manager] Bob Mardon for the last 20 years, his hard work and dedication have led to Club 85 being the best live music venue in the area. We will both support Bob in developing a new grassroots venue.”

Lidder also thanked Club 85’s patrons, saying, “Lastly, we’d like to thank all the great people who have come through the doors over the last 38 years and becoming a part of the Club 85 family.”

The news has been met with negative feedback, with one Twitter user writing, “It’s ridiculous to tear it down to make a handful of flats.”

BOO! Club 85 offers great opportunities for live music and comedy. It’s ridiculous to tear it down to make a handful of flats #Hitchin #Club85 https://t.co/x43d30j270

— Phoenix Phil Morley (@PhoenixPhilM) September 19, 2023

Another called the news “pretty devastating.”  

The last time I played Club 85, I was much smaller.

Hitchin’s lucky to have a full-time music venue with so much love & history behind it. Club 85’s a cultural asset that gives so much to the community. So the news of the proposal to replace it with flats is pretty devastating. pic.twitter.com/tj3o30xyQj

— David Ephgrave (@David_Ephgrave) September 20, 2023

Hitchin councillor, Ian Albert, summed up the news by saying, “This is desperately sad news for the residents of Hitchin and music lovers far and wide.“

@NevilleStaple #FromTheSpecials @twforum @RoyalTunbridge @SugaryStaple
16 December 2021. A fun, stomping, singalong party show. Don’t miss it! pic.twitter.com/El3qZl2p7e

— From THE SPECIALS Neville Staple (@NevilleStaple) November 15, 2021

Neville Eugenton Staple is a Jamaican-born English singer and is known as a co-vocalist from the 2 tone Ska group The Specials, as well as group Fun Boy Three and for his group the Neville Staple Band. Staple’s musical journey began as a co-vocalist with the band The Specials originally called the Coventry Automatics who were formed in 1977.

Staple’s joined the band in 1978 and Tim Strickland (Vocalist and guitarist) was replaced, by vocalist Terri Hall.

The band lineup also included co-vocalsit Lynval Golding, who also also played the guitar, guitarist Roddy (Radiation) Byers, bassist Horace Panter, keyboardist Jerry Dammers, John Bradbury (Replaced drummer Silverton Hutchinson), as well as Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez both on horns.

The band are famed for their single “A Message to You Rudy” their 1980 UK number 1 single “Too Much Too Young” and single “Ghost Town” which also reached number 1 in the UK Official Charts.

The musician left the band in 2013 due to personal issues and ill health, he then kick started his solo career in 2014 with solo album Ska Crazy. The musicians follow up album Return of Judge Roughneck & Dub Specials was released in 2017 and his last album was Rude Rebels in 2018 with his wife Christine (Surgary) Staple and former bandmate Byers.

The musician is joined by his wife again for his new album. Staple’s revisits his musical career past on his new album and also teams up with reggae artist Clint Eastwood, actor Gary Shail, Derrick Morgan and founding Selector member Neol Davies for his new album From The Specials & Beyond. 

Staple’s said of his collaborators “The special guests were amazing to work with too, especially Derrick Morgan, one of my early inspirations” The musician also said “This is set to be a real ‘stand out’ one, that makes me proud of my career to date” The singer is set to release his new album The Specials & Beyond for his followers via Cleopatra Records, on December 10th and his followers can also enjoy seeing him perform at Tunbridge Wells on, December 16th.

See the tracklist for Neville Staple’s new album The Specials & Beyond below and pre-order the album here

Right from Wrong
Celebrate with You
Can’t Take No More
Don’t Let It Pass You By
Stand By Me
Something’s Wrong
Housewives Choice (Featuring Derrick Morgan)
Please Don’t Leave Me Lonely
What’s Really Going On (Featuring Gary Shail)
Miss Dis N Dat (DJ Mix) (Featuring Clint Eastwood)
Way of Life (Pandemic Mix) (Featuring Neol Davies)
World Turned Upside Down

See the details for Neville Staple’s upcoming concert date below and purchase tickets here

16/12/21 The Forum- Royal Tunbridge Wells- London