The owner of Black Sheep Bar has not ruled out a possible return in the future after plans to build flats above the venue forced it to close.

Black Sheep bar was Croydon’s longest-standing independent nightclub having run for 15 years. It announced it had closed today.

Paul Bossick, owner of the bar, has run the venue with his dad Howard since 1998 and is one of Croydon’s most popular alternative venues.

Its closure has come after plans were submitted to convert offices above the club into 111 flats.

Hundreds have taken to social media to express their disappointment about the closure of the nightclub.

About 13 people have lost their jobs at the bar although some of them might be able to transfer to Mr Bossick’s other bar, Bad Apple.

The 42-year-old said it was one of the toughest and most emotional days he has been through.

He said: "The situation came to a head as the office block above us is being converted into flats. We are coming to the end of our refurbishment cycle but it is not a sensible course of action to do so now so we were in a catch 22 in how to proceed.

"It wouldn’t have been wise to invest lots of money into it and then close it down a bit later.

"We have traded through bad times in the knowledge things would get better but these plans would have brought the Sheep to an end no matter how successful it was.

"We thought we would extract ourselves rather than being pushed out at a later date.

"It is very sad. We have had so many conversations today about it and the emotion showed is incredible really. People are upset about it.

"There was a great collective and community feel to it which is why I think so many people are sad to see the bar close."

He added: "The Bad Apple will probably be opening a couple more days a week which is important.

"Obviously Croydon has got massive redevelopment plans going on and we will see how those go and find a bit of Croydon which can fit a loud student bar like us.

"The Sheep has found itself in the wrong place really so we hopefully we can find a right place.

"There is no bitterness from us about the plans for the flats. We are not angry. It is unfortunate for the Sheep but for the landlord he has to utilise the space.

"We had around 13 full time staff and we have had to make them redundant. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It was not nice at all.

"To sit down with the cleaner who has been here since 1998 and tell her the place she has always cleaned is no longer open was pretty sad. It was awful."