A NEWPORT social club which has hosted acts by Tom Jones and Jim Davidson is to close after an astounding 78 years in business.

Ebbw Bridge Club, on Cardiff Road, Newport, is up for sale after falling club members has meant the social club can no longer make ends meet.

Chairman Albert Jordan, 79, said: “It is a sad thing as a few members have been coming to the club for years and years.

“We’ve had top acts appear at the club like Tom Jones, Jim Davidson and Frank Carson.”

“It’s been 78 years trading, since 1936, but we’ve had to put it up for sale because of lack of membership.”

Despite having 200 members on roll, Mr Jordan said less than a quarter pop in to the social club from time to time.

Mr Jordan, who has chaired the club for 20 years on and off, said: “If every member came in for one or two pints regularly, we might survive. But it’s not happening.”

“It will be a shame if it closes as it has been host to some really top acts.”

A general meeting was held in March to discuss the financial problems of the club but only 37 of the club’s members turned up.

Now the club is set to finally close its doors for good on August 11.

Also to shut down will be Ebbw Bridge Club’s racing pigeon club, which has sent pigeons to compete as far afield as Barcelona.

Ebbw Bridge Social Club has drawn attention from a couple of interested buyers but Mr Jordan says nothing has been confirmed yet.

Mr Jordan said: “We haven’t had any names yet but a couple of people are interested. We’ve been told that they expect it to go for a few hundred thousand.”