Kingston is known for its thriving night life, for better or worse.

But that could all change within the next few years, according to Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis.

At least two of the town centre’s most popular nightclubs will be closed and knocked down within the next five years, to make way for new homes, shops and restaurants.

But the council has been accused of ignoring Kingston’s vibrant arts and music scene at the expense of new commerce. The Hippodrome, in St James Road, and McClusky’s, in Thames Street, are both earmarked for demolition as part of two major redevelopments.

Hippodrome is expected to be knocked down in the next five years as part of the Eden Quarter development – a mixture of residential and retail properties.

McClusky’s will close when the second phase of development at the Riverside Kingston restaurant complex begins in 2019.

Coun Davis said that getting rid of the clubs is something that will naturally happen as older people are moving into the borough.

He said: “The whole nightlife issue has changed in the last 10 years.

“The way people are thinking about the town centre is starting to change.

“Rather than retiring to the outskirts of town or to a little village in Devon or somewhere they are buying property in the town centre.”

But Banquet Records owner Jon Tolley, who organises more than 200 gigs and shows in Kingston every year, believes that the council are not thinking about young people in Kingston.

Mr Tolley, who is standing as an independent in next month’s Grove ward byelection, said: “My main concern about such things is I wonder if music and culture are being valued as much as much as other things.

“For example I think the Rose Theatre is full of great, professional people, but we have spent a lot of money propping that theatre up.

“All Time Low played Hippodrome last week and they have a number one album.

“Surely that is significantly important for Kingston?

“Kingston is a great place to live and what I love about it is it has one of the best music scenes in the country, and the council isn’t supporting it at the moment.”

Mr Davis said despite the closures there will still be plenty of places for young people in the borough.

He said: “There will still be lots of pubs and there is no plan for Prizm to go anywhere so university students will have that.”