More than 600 people packed in to Corsham’s only nightclub on Saturday night to come together for the last night before the nightclub closed after more than 30 years.
Lilleys, in Westwells Road, as it has been known since 2004 and previously The Flamingo, closed as leaseholder Chris Lilley, a former Bath Rugby player, was unable to keep the club running due to the lack of customers who were using the club and the debt it had put him in.
Revellers, who had been to the club over the past three decades, queued to get in to see old friends and enjoy the atmosphere one last time.
Helen Hunt, 28, of Rudloe has been going to the club for the past decade and said it is the end of an era.
“It was a really busy night at the club on Saturday with people actually queuing to get in which I don’t think has happened before.
“The atmosphere was fantastic and I was quite surprised how good it was and that there was no trouble at all with all the people who were there.
“It is such a shame everybody who was there that night didn’t use it more often as on an average night there were about 30 or 40 people. It will be sad to see it go after all these years.”
Another reveller Phil Charles, who is the manager of the Corsham branch of the British Legion Club, said it was a night to remember.
He said: “The atmosphere at the club was absolutely amazing and packed with people. It was great to see people from years ago who I haven’t seen in a while.
“I was queuing to get in which was strange because I’m used to queuing to get into clubs in Bristol and London, but not to get into Lilleys.
“I have been going there since I was 16 and I am now 25 years old so it was quite sad to think Saturday was the last night but there were so many people enjoying themselves that it turned out to be a great night with no trouble.”
The owners of the nightclub, Amanda and Wayne Petty, are putting the building back up for lease and have said the future of the club is unknown.
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