Soaring costs blamed for football centre closure

Active Arena is off Moorland Way, near Tritton Road, in Lincoln

An indoor football centre in Lincoln run by a former professional player has gone into administration.

Active Arena closed suddenly earlier this month, leaving people who had booked events at the venue in limbo.

In a social media video post on Monday, owner Danny Hone confirmed the news.

He said it was "gutting", but added he wanted to reassure people with pre-paid bookings they would be refunded.

In the video post, Mr Hone - a former Lincoln City player - said the business was set up in lockdown as a community interest company to be "a community asset".

"I'm proud to say that's what it has been," he said.

Since then "we've had the cost of living crisis [and] energy prices going through the roof", he said.

However, Mr Hone said recently "it's started to become even more of a struggle".

The sign announcing the venue's closure was on display on 4 October

Mr Hone described the business, which also hosted children's parties and other events, as his "life's work" and said the strain had taken its toll on him and his family.

"Everything I put into it - I sold my family home to build the arena - and to see that fall down isn't something particularly nice," he added.

"What guts me the most is it's not bad business decisions, it's just the cost of everything [has] risen exponentially.

"It just wasn't viable."

Mr Hone signed off by thanking everyone who had supported the business over the years, adding "without you it wouldn't have been such an incredible place to be".

The video comes after a number of complaints about bookings being cancelled, and a lack of communication from the venue after a sign was put up to say it was closed "due to unforeseen circumstances".

However, Mr Hone's post was largely met with messages of support, including one that read: "Sorry you are going through this, it is a huge shame as I know my boys absolutely loved it there whether it was for a kick about or a party.

"Nobody understands the full ins and outs and what goes on in the background and I can see this is having a huge effect on you. Take care of yourself and thanks for the great fun over the years."

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