A NIGHTCLUB has closed a month after being at the centre of a murder investigation following the death of a teenage soldier.

The owners of Escapade, in Darlington, have decided to close after a drop off in trade – but have not ruled out re-opening the venue.

It came under the spotlight when soldier Andrew Gibson, 19, died last month after being attacked on the dance floor.

Three clubbers – all under 18 – were arrested and bailed in connection with the incident.

Nearby residents have regularly complained about the club, and the street has topped police tables as the most violent in the town because of the number of reported assaults.

The owners said last month it would undertake retraining of staff.

However, in a statement yesterday, Paul Kinsey, chief executive of owners Nexum, said: “We have decided, for commercial reasons, to close Escapade Darlington.

“We are currently exploring future development opportunities for the venue.”

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, who sits on Darlington Borough Council’s licensing committee and is also cabinet member for children and young people, said she was planning to launch a review of the venue’s licence as a result of underage customers.

She added: “Obviously, they are making a commercial decision and I am sad that any business in the town decides to stop trading. I hope if a new licensee comes in, they take on board the concerns of the licensing committee.”

Inspector Steve Steen, of Darlington police, said their tactics would not change as a result of the closure and officers would be deployed around the town centre, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

Members of the town’s Pubwatch scheme had agreed to relaunch the Challenge 21 identification scheme.

One customer told The Northern Echo that the club had previously reduced opening from four nights to two because of poor trade and added that custom had further fallen since last month.

Escapade has twice undergone £1m refurbishments in the past and was previously known as Mardi Gras and Lucinda’s.

Nexum also closed a sister club, in its Halo chain, in Nottingham, last month for commercial reasons.