BRIGHTON'S famous bikers' haunt, The Waterfront Cafe and Bar, has closed after only 16 months and receivers have been called in.

The sudden closure stunned motorcyclists who turned up at the weekend. The Waterfront, with its showbiz connections - Noel Janus, father of actress Samantha Janus, was one of its directors, along with film and TV producer Des Cox - received wide publicity. Last November the BBC Children in Need appeal used it as a South East base for its live broadcasts. Pub quiz nights were also recorded for TV at the Waterfront, which is on Madeira Drive, near Peter Pan's Playground. There was talk of a TV series called The Bikers based on the venue and for a series of TV concerts featuring top groups to be recorded there. On Friday night, it was decided that Maingrand Ltd, whose other directors were Bev Robbins, landlord of the the Hand in Hand pub in Kemp Town, and businessman Robert Shove, would cease trading. The Argus understands that Courage Ltd, which had partly funded the project, decided to call in receivers after some of its loan repayments were not met. A spokesman said: "This is a commercially sensitive issue. We can't say anything more at the moment." Brighton and Hove Council leader Lord Bassam said: "The council has always been very supportive of seafront businesses. We are are disappointed. "We will do all we can to put something in its place in this important part of the seafront" Maingrand's Robert Shove said: "We have been trying to raise extra funds, not only to develop the businesses, but to honour our commitments to Brighton and Hove Council." Des Cox, who was a biker in the Sixties, said: "We had hoped to arrange extra funding but it was not to be." Bev Robbins said: "I got involved because I genuinely wanted to see something done about that part of Brighton."

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