An arts venue charity has announced it is to close amid financial pressures after concluding that it is “unable to continue its work sustainably”.

The move has been taken by Taunton Theatre Association, which runs the Taunton Brewhouse venue in the Somerset town.

The venue has been temporarily closed from 21 September while trustees work to keep it open, but this has not been successful, and the charity will cease operating.

The venue will formally close on 31 October.

“A combination of reduced funding, rising operational costs, increased responsibilities for building maintenance and lower ticket sales have left the charity unable to continue its work sustainably,” it said.

“Despite the generosity of individuals who have donated or pledged financial support over the past week, we have concluded that the regulatory and organisational frameworks in which we have to operate do not give us the time to develop and implement a robust survival plan.”

The charity’s chair Val Hammond says that the theatre building remains in the ownership of Somerset Council “and we hope that, in due course, a new team of enthusiasts will bring the vision and energy needed to reopen it”.

She added “I believe we all united in thinking it inconceivable that Taunton should be without a public theatre”.

All performances scheduled for October will go ahead, confirmed the charity, that has been operating the venue for the last 13 years.

Those with tickets for events beyond the end of October are urged to keep their booking details and they can expect to receive further information about claiming their money back “in due course”.

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