Manchester clubbing institution Sankeys has closed after the building it occupied was sold - to be turned into apartments.

Staff at the Beehive Mill nightclub in Ancoats were told today, along with promoters and artists due to be holding events at the club this weekend.

The Grade II* listed former cotton mill had been listed for sale with Savills UK and is understood to have been sold to a property developer with plans to turn it into apartments.

In an email circulated to staff and promoters today, Tony Hill, managing director of Radius Security - who was brought on around five months ago by the club's Japanese owners to help manage the club - said: "As you are aware we have been in negotiations with the property management agents of Beehive Mill for some time with regards to the lease for Sankeys.

"It has become apparent that the reason that they haven't issued a new agreement is due to the fact that the entire building has been sold to a residential property developer who intends to turn it into apartments.

"With that, it is with great regret that we must close Sankeys with immediate effect."

"On behalf of the directors and management team can you please pass this message on to those that it affects and apologise for how suddenly the change in circumstances has taken place."

Speaking to the M.E.N tonight, he said they had been 'forced into a corner' after the landlord declined to extend the club's lease, which expired last summer.

He said: "They wanted us to carry on trading on a day by day basis but there was a bit of work needed to tidy up the place, and how much money can you put into it without a long term commitment?

(Image: Savills)

"Sankeys as a brand will live on though. We still have a licence to continue holding Sankeys events and we might look into another venue.

"We can't promise anything but we haven't written it off altogether. We're just in a situation where our hands are tied.

"It's incredibly sad to see it come away from the venue. Sankeys is legendary. It's an absolute shame."

The Savills listing describes Beehive Mill as a ‘prime residential opportunity’ and says there has been 'positive pre-application discussions with Manchester City Council' to convert it.

A sales brochure states: “The building has played a key role in Manchester’s musical history as the home to Sankey’s Nightclub. Tomorrow offers another opportunity for re-invention.”

No value was advertised on the listing, with Savills giving the price on application.

Sankeys Manchester Limited has also recently registered a change of address from Beehive Mill to Burton Varley LLP, based at Towers Business Park in Didsbury.

Saturday’s scheduled club night, Covert, which was due to feature sets from OC and Verde, has been moved to Gorilla due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’, according to a Facebook post by the promoter.

Former Sankeys owner Paul “Fletch” Fletcher, said he has been told the club is now closed “with immediate effect”.

Fletch, who ran the club over two years ago, said: “I’ve been told the previous landlord of the building has sold to a new landlord who is going to turn the place into flats.

“I’ve heard it is now closed with pretty much immediate effect. I’ve spent most of my adult life in there, as a punter and as an owner, so it’s a place that’s close to my heart so of course I’m saddened by the news.

"Another one of Manchester's iconic clubs gone forever. When will we learn?"

Warehouse Project boss Sacha Lord-Marchionne, who revived the club in 2000 with then-business partner David Vincent, also shared his memories on Twitter.

He tweeted: “If it’s true, I’m saddened to hear the news about Sankeys. Owning it 2000-2006 were fun and challenging years! A Loss to Manchester #Sankeys.”

The club first opened back in 1994 as Sankeys Soap, in a nod to the venue’s past use as a soapworks, and been closed and reborn several times.

In that time it has become an iconic global clubbing brand with franchises in Ibiza and Tokyo, and plans were recently revealed to open more in Birmingham and Essex.

News of the Manchester club’s closure has also prompted an outpouring of memories on Twitter from clubbers past and present.

Happy Mondays singer Rowetta tweeted: "#RIPSankeys. More flats in a city with so many homeless people! Sad."

Josh Bardsley tweeted: “Had so many memories at @sankeys_mcr, met some of the best nights out I’ve ever had in there.”

Danny Griffiths added: Sankeys closing..was mad back in the day. Miguel Campbell taking over spektrum in 2012 was a highlight defo.”

The M.E.N has contacted the club's ownership, Savills and Burton Varley but nobody was available for comment.