One of Brighton's most successful nightclubs is facing closure over an unpaid tax bill.

Chris Steward, who owns live music venue Concorde 2 in Madeira Drive, has been told he must come up with more than £40,000 by noon today.

If he fails to pay the bailiffs will move in and remove all the club's stock and equipment, forcing it to close.

The bailiffs' notice, issued last Thursday, has an inventory of items to be seized including drinks, refrigerators, glass washers, mixing desk, 12 speakers and other sound and lighting equipment.

The amount due shown on the notice is £40,267 for non-domestic rate debt.

Mr Steward said the huge bill was the result of a tax reassessment and had been backdated.

But he said he missed the first payment because he was waiting for information from Brighton and Hove City Council on how to make it.

Now he has been told he has forfeited his right to pay by instalments and is trying to get the cash together before the bailiffs arrive.

Mr Steward said: "It's like a film. They've given us this ultimatum of £40,000 by noon today without any discussion at all.

"It's as if they don't want us to find the money in time and would rather close us down because they just won't discuss it.

"I asked how I could pay it and before they gave me an answer I had missed the date."

He said friends and family were pledging money to try to reach the total.

He said: "I have to use the £20,000 I had saved for a deposit on a flat for my daughter's 18th birthday.

"Mates are giving me £1,000 here, £50 there. I've called everyone I know - they've been brilliant."

He said they had commitments to bands they had booked and paid deposits for.

Mr Steward said: "Loads of bands say it is their favourite venue to play because they get looked after so well and it's such a good crowd."

The original Concorde, also run by Mr Steward further up Madeira Drive, closed about five years ago and the building was demolished.

Concorde 2 continued the music legacy which began almost 20 years ago.

Mr Steward said: "That place was a wreck when we took it over.

"We spent £400,000 doing the place up and we run the lift and the public toilets on behalf of the council.

"We put on so many gigs here, we are open almost every night and promote local talent.

"We insist the bigger bands are supported by local ones, many of whom have been signed after being spotted here.

"And we don't get a penny of council money or arts funding.

"It's so unfair. I could not believe it when I came back from a trip to Copenhagen to finds the bailiffs' letter."

A council spokesman said: "We will discuss this first thing Monday morning with business rates officers and bailiffs to find out what options there may be for the recovery of these debts."