MYSTERY surrounds the future of a Newton Abbot social club after it closed unexpectedly.

The Mid Devon Constitutional Club in Union Street shut its bar on June 30, but has temporarily reopened twice since – to honour a pre-booked private party, and again to redistribute the funds of its Christmas Thrift Club.

Despite the entrance being railed off a spokesperson said the club would reopen.

However, the future of the club, founded in 1888, remains uncertain with rumours and counter rumours continuing to circulate in the town.

One club member told this paper: ‘The club suffered through Covid. They had to throw away a lot of beer at the start as it became out of date, and members have simply drifted away.’

Another member related: ‘No letters have gone out, no meeting called: just the door locked and gated.

‘I understand the water rates are astronomical, and the building itself is way too big for the membership it has. Snooker makes no money.’

Bingo, however, remained a popular crowd pleaser  drawing in a good number of members.

The substantial, three-story building boasts a bar area on the ground floor, a skittles alley and function room on the first floor which was let out for private parties, and two snooker tables on the second floor. The club’s catering staff offered hot meals on certain days of the week.

It’s understood there were few members under the age of 50, and membership numbers have declined from around 500 to some 300 in recent years.

This was refuted by one committee member who said that numbers had in fact ‘increased significantly’.

They went on to say they were due to have a regular committee meeting on Tuesday, July12, affirming: ‘We are hoping to reopen within the next two weeks.’