Fairfield Halls has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and will now go “into hibernation” until 2021.

The Croydon venue was forced to close in March due to the lockdown and there is still no precise date for when theatres will be allowed to reopen.

Now venue bosses have taken the tough decision to keep the doors closed for the rest of year.

It is not yet known what this will mean for the venue’s employees who have been on furlough since March.

It is a serious blow to the venue which had only been able to reopen for six months after a three year closure for refurbishments.

The £42 million revamp, which was funded by Croydon Council, was unveiled in September 2019.

BH Live, which runs the venue, said that it will join venues across the country in entering a “hibernation period” in a bid to protect the future of the venue.

It is hoped that some of the remaining bookings and events in 2020 may be able to take place when social distancing restrictions are relaxed- but Fairfield Halls will not be taking any further bookings until 2021.

Chris Symons, chief executive of BH Live said: “The impact of this pandemic has devastated venues and operators across the country. Unlike many arts venues who receive Arts Council funding, Fairfield Halls relies completely on generating customer income to survive.

“With no income generated at Fairfield Halls since the end of March and no immediate signs of recovery, like other venues up and down the country we have taken the tough decision to accept that normality in the theatre is not likely to return until the new year.

“Placing the building into hibernation will enable us to protect the venue and put plans in place for reopening in 2021.”

Mr Symons added: “I am truly saddened that we have been forced into taking this unavoidable action, however I am hopeful we can continue to re-establish Fairfield Halls as Croydon’s cultural hub in 2021 leading to the Borough of Culture celebrations in 2023.”

And Croydon Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, Oliver Lewis, said he supported the “incredibly difficult decision” made by BH Live.

He added: “Fairfield Halls is hugely important to Croydon, to all of our artists and our residents, and we hope that this action now will ensure our venue is protected for the future.”

Fairfield Halls is currently working with promoters to meet ‘contractual obligations’, while customers with tickets for events are set to be contacted directly.