THE future of a city centre venue hangs in the balance.

Managers say they would be "heartbroken" if the Stage Door closes - but it could happen by the end of the year.

Just three years after spending £50k on refurbishing the former Soul Cellar Julianne Watling-McCarthy says she would be "heartbroken" if the venue was forced to close.

As reported the Bridging the Gap fund, provided by the Government and co-ordinated by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), was billed as a jackpot capable of making the dreams of dozens of entrepreneurs and business leaders come true.

But Julianne cited lack of customers, the delayed opening of Studio 144 and the Westquay extension as factors which have led to financial difficulties and an uncertain future.

Julianne and husband Jason took on the West Marlands Road venue with hopes of making it a thriving city centre independent venue

The downstairs cafe was sub-let as Rogues Cafe - but closed in January this year.

Now Julianne plans to re-open the cafe as a community interest company in a bid to help sustain the theatre upstairs.

But Julianne - who is also on the Southampton Pride organising committee - says she would be "devastated" to see the venue close.

She said: "It's been three years of blood sweat tears and most of our personal savings. But we just don't get enough support in the form of customers.

"If it was used more during the day perhaps by corporate customers that would be help. But it's just very difficult being an independent venue. "We still have the Jason Manford comedy night which does very well but it's not used every night.

"It's such a big venue to sustain. But I think it's important for Southampton to have independent fringe venues. It's something that Southampton would miss.

"When we opened three years ago the opening of Studio 144 was supposed to be imminent, but it's only just happened now.

"Westquay hasn't helped - I think a lot more people are going there now."

The cafe downstairs will be renamed Kinship Cafe and run by Julianne and fellow Pride organiser Michael Ghee.

They want it to become an affordable 'community hub' with food and drinks as well as space for meetings, groups and socialising.

Bargate ward councillor Sarah Bogle said it would be a "great shame" if the venue closed.

A spokesperson for Southampton's Business Improvement District added: "It is always a concern to hear of a business in the BID area which is struggling. The BID is committed to increasing footfall into the city and improving flow around it.

"We have started to deliver a full programme of events and marketing initiatives designed to promote the city as a whole as well as offering businesses a platform through which their individual organisation can be promoted to a wider audience.

"We hope that these initiatives will help alleviate some of the challenges of the current trading environment.”