A community centre in a building which was once a pub has been forced to close due to financial struggles.

The Whitehawk Inn, in Whitehawk Road, Brighton is a community centre which hosts courses and support services.

It is expected to close at the end of March as it is no longer viable for the charity which delivers its services to continue. 

Services at the centre are currently delivered by the charity Brighton Housing Trust (BHT) Sussex .

The Whitehawk Inn provides residents with information and advice services, well-being, adult learning and social groups, and access to IT facilities.

It is used by a range of community organisations, and also as a polling centre and a vaccination centre.

BHT Sussex said it is liaising with people  who use the centre to try to mitigate the impact of its closure.

The charity will continue to run certain services in different venues and remotely, including its financial advice and digital inclusion classes.

In 2022, the Whitehawk Inn provided 769 advice sessions and was able to help secure clients £100,476 worth of benefits. 

But, the costs of running the services delivered from the centre together with leasing and maintaining the building itself have proved too high, despite the efforts of BHT Sussex to secure additional funding and hire out rooms to maximise income.

David Chaffey, chief executive of the charity, said: “BHT Sussex took on the Whitehawk Inn in 2015 when it faced imminent closure and we were determined to save the project as a highly valuable, and valued, resource and community venue for the residents of East Brighton.

“We are proud to have kept the service running for 7 years, and deeply regret that without additional stable income, we have had to make the difficult decision to close the service.

“In the current very challenging economic climate we must do all we can to protect our core services around homelessness, advice provision, addiction, housing advice, mental health, and housing.

"The reality is that continuing to support the Whitehawk Inn could affect our ability to do that in the future. These aspects of our work remain the key components of our mission and must be our priority to continue to provide.”

Brighton and Hove City Council has been approached for comment.