A licensing clampdown has forced the long-running venue out of business.

Glasgow club The Arches has gone into administration. At a meeting of the venue’s board of directors today, bosses confirmed they will start the process of appointing administrators for both Arches Theatre and Arches Retail Company Limited.

In May the Glasgow licensing board made the decision to drastically limit the club’s operating hours, forcing it to close every day at midnight.  At the time the club’s executive director Mark Anderson warned that the move “may well result in the closure” of the club, “one of Europe’s most highly regarded arts venues and a key contributor to Glasgow’s night time economy.”

Gordon Kennedy, chairman of the venue’s board of directors, said today they had “no other choice than to begin the process of appointing administrators”, the Evening Times reports.

“The Arches as a multi-use space depends heavily on income from nightclub events. Given that the Licensing Board’s decision effectively prohibits this part of the business, it has become clear to us that The Arches in its current form is no longer viable,” said Kennedy.

He added: “This decision has been taken with deep regret as it will have a major impact on our staff, business partners, customers, and on Glasgow’s reputation for night time economy. Our hope is that the administrators, working with partners and stakeholders, can salvage some of the activities for which The Arches is renowned. The Board sincerely thanks our staff, customers, supporters, performers and partners for their support over the years. This is a very sad day for The Arches and for the city of Glasgow.

“We were disappointed and surprised at the outcome of the Licensing Board. The Arches has a zero tolerance approach to drugs and has cooperated with the Police over many years. For an unprecedented six years The Arches won gold standard under the Glasgow Community Safety/Strathclyde Police Best Bar None awards – recognition of best practice in maintaining safe and well-run premises. No other venue in Scotland has achieved that.

“We are very grateful to the almost 40,000 people who have signed and shared the petition to re-instate our licence and to everyone who has joined the #savethearches social media campaign. We are humbled by the hundreds of artists and industry professionals from all disciplines who have lent their signature and their voice to the cause.

“The Arches has its roots in the 1990 City of Culture and has since been recognised as one of the UK and Europe’s leading music venues, an internationally renowned arts and creative learning hub, and a venue for major corporate events such as last year’s MTV European Music Awards after party. It is one of Glasgow’s iconic venues.”

All events scheduled at the Arches from June 10, 2015 are now cancelled. The licensing board’s decision followed a bid by Police Scotland to shut down the venue in March after a women was found unconscious in the venue.

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