“WE are here for the community.”

This is the message from staff at Verwood’s Hub following the recent closure of Club 31 – a popular social club in the town.

The club ceased trading over the festive period and Brian Giddings, who headed the club, said there was nowhere else in the town to hold parties, weddings, wakes or for entertainment.

But Hub general manager Jacqui Sainsbury says the community venue can cater for any event and would be happy to try and help people who had events booked at Club 31 and are still looking for an alternative venue.

“We are providing the whole lifestyle for the Verwood community – we can cater for weddings, Christenings and wakes, you can sit down for a meal or coffee with friends or choose from an array of events from our entertainments calendar.

“The Hub has embedded its roots into the community and they are just growing and growing.”

She said new events coordinator Derren Storey has been working on a range of exciting new events for 2012 including regular comedy and family nights.

Jacqui added: “We want to emphasise we are here, we are open for the community and we can cater for their needs.

“We feel very sorry for Club 31 and its customers and if we can help those people who had events booked we would like to do so.”

Suzanne Brown, marketing officer at the Brock Way centre, added: “This is an opportunity for people to come to see what we do and what we are going to do.”

The Hub also offers a range of fitness classes and hosts events staged by other communities and charities.

Later this year, Verwood Community Association, which manages the gym at Verwood Leisure Centre and the classes at Potterne Park, will merge with Verwood Hub Community Association, which is in charge of the Hub.

And East Dorset District Council is working on plans to build a new gym at the Hub to replace the existing gym suite in Verwood Leisure Centre.

Andrew Blackwell, general manager at Crane Valley Golf Club in Verwood, also said that his venue hosted many of the village’s clubs.

“We are a venue for all types of parties, weddings, wakes, luncheons and evening dinners,” he said.