A POPULAR music venue is being forced to shut down – and the owners say the knock-on effect of work to improve the railway line in Bolton is partly to blame.

The Railway Venue, in Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, is preparing to close its doors for the final time in January.

Despite boasting big crowd-pulling acts over the past five years, managers Jon Hanson and his partner Hilary Howard say the business has become a struggle to run.

With the nearby railway station closed for five months due to the Farnworth tunnel work, the venue has lost clientele and money, leaving the couple unable to pay business rates and left with “no choice” but to close.

Mr Hanson said: "The business has been built up on people coming in from all over the place with many from Yorkshire, Clitheroe and Blackburn, who got the train straight to our front door.

"The trains haven't been running properly since May. We used to depend on the weekend to see us through but this has absolutely killed us and we don’t know what to do.

“There are a lot of houses around this area but we don’t get one per cent of the people who live here.

“We are working to pay the business rates; we have a rent break but still can’t even keep on top of it. It’s that ridiculous.

“It’s all a Catch 22 in the end and we can’t catch up.

"It's made me and my partner really ill, and we don't know what to do. It's killing us.”

The couple took over the Railway – which is owned by Heineken brewery – in 2000.

Located directly opposite the Bromley Cross station, they thought it was an ideal venue to draw in music fans both near and away.

Over the years, it has welcomed hundreds of acts, with names like Kiki Dee, Wilko Johnson and Andy Fraser.

Mr Hanson added: “We can’t get anyone in the place. We used to get all the major acts and now nobody cares.

“It’s done with a lot of love a passion and that’s not been reciprocated. There is a core following but they can’t come in every day.

“It’s a lovely place. We’ve never had any trouble, there’s always a lovely atmosphere and yet it’s been shunned.”

Bromley Cross Conservative Councillor David Greenhalgh said businesses had suffered because of the disrupted transport links, but there were opportunities open to small businesses for help from the Government and Bolton Council if they are struggling.

He added: “From my point of view, it is very sad when we lose a local business and one like this which has built up a strong reputation.

“I would encourage them to contact me so we can see what options are available to help them.”

Labour's Council leader, Cllr Cliff Morris, said the council would be considering various options at creating a fairer business rate when responsibility for setting the rates was devolved from central Government.

He said: “It is unfair that business rates are set in respect of where you are located.

“The Government promised us in their manifesto it would look at the rates and re-valuate, but this has not happened.”