THE sudden closure of Kendal’s only night club, The Loft in Kent Street, will have come as a shock to South Lakeland’s younger generation.

But it is also likely to have implications for other businesses which rely on a vibrant night time economy.

Pubs, restaurants, takeaways and taxi firms could all be affected if young people from Kendal and its surrounding towns and villages, such as Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale, now decide to head to Lancaster and Bowness or perhaps even further afield to towns like Barrow for their nocturnal fun.

Although some of the town’s residents who like a quiet life may welcome such a development, having no venue to socialise in until two or three o’clock in the morning would create the impression that Kendal is a place to avoid if you want to enjoy a bit of lively fun after a hard working week.

Of course, The Loft’s closure could well be temporary and a buyer for the business may come forward.

After all, it is in a prime town centre location and would likely make a good investment.

Let us hope this is so and that a sale happens quickly before too many former customers get too used to travelling out of the area for their weekend entertainment.

Although Kendal is a gateway to the Lakes, it should not be seen as a leisure backwater.

Young people have a right to a fulfilling life - and cavorting on a nightclub dancefloor until the early hours has traditionally been part of that.

But if The Loft remains closed for any length of time, it will provide an early challenge for those who run the new Kendal Business Improvement District, which got the go-ahead in a ballot of town centre businesses last month.

Although, quite rightly, the BID has been largely sold on improving the town’s daytime economy, The Loft’s closure is a reminder that the nightime economy also has a crucial role to play.