BROKEN-HEARTED Rollerworld workers who could find themselves jobless weeks before Christmas say they feel “really sick” over the historic rink’s tragic closure.

The legendary venue has officially shut down after bringing joy and happiness to countless people in Colchester and beyond for more than three decades.

In one final show of solidarity with owners Jason and Anne Khan, who have been at the helm since 2018, hundreds of skaters took to the hardwood flooring last night.

Attention has now turned to the future of the skating complex’s dedicated employees, who are now set to lose their jobs and - according to them - their second family.

Gazette:

Gareth Oliver, 27, manager and resident DJ, has worked at Rollerworld for seven years, and even met his now fiancé at the legendary rink.

He said: “It is a sad moment because Rollerworld has been an iconic venue for 32 years and it potentially is not going to be here anymore.

“This is a place where I thought I would bring my children one day but that is not going to happen now, sadly.

“The customers here become your family - they have a genuine care for you and they want to know how you are. You don’t get that anywhere else.

“There is potentially 40 of us losing our jobs. It is hard when you feel your job is secure again after the pandemic but then you have the rug pulled from under you.”

READ MORE: Rollerworld Colchester shuts down after 32 years of business

Jason and Anne made the difficult decision to call time on Rollerworld after Petchey Holdings increased the rent on the building from £100,000 per year to £250,000.

After initially refusing the demand, the couple have now said they would accept the  asking fee in order to prevent Rollerworld from closing.

As it stands, however, the venue is still destined to close.

Gazette:

Frankie Moll, 26, who has worked for Rollerworld for a year and a half, said: “I feel really sick because all this history is going to be wiped away.

“I lost my job during Covid and I managed to get this job here and I was really lucky because I do have a lot of special needs, quirks and differences.

“But everyone here, both staff and the people who come here, accepted me instantly and worked with me and now I don’t want to give up how accepted I have become.

“I don’t want to lose any of the friendships and the family you have made here.”