COUNCIL bosses are to offer £250,000 to help buy an under-threat East Oxford social club.

Oxford City Council plan to put the cash towards the £1.25m asking price for the freehold of The Gladiator Club, Iffley Road.

Bosses said the club and an un-named arts organisation would put in the rest and it would be leased back to users of the centre Owners The Gladiator Trust put the building on the market last September, saying it could better continue its Christian work in the community.

City council leader Bob Price said: “We’re in the process of trying to negotiate a deal with an arts organisation because it presents a very valuable community facility.

“We will be able to use it for arts and music activities in the area. If we’re successful the club will carry on.”

The sale would also include two flats separate to the centre.

The plan will be discussed by the council’s scrutiny committee today at the Town Hall, St Aldate’s at 6pm.

The public can attend. The club has about 450 members and has operated from the site since the 1940s. The Gladiator Trust refused to comment.

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