The Stonegate Group owned the branch Yates at 53-57 Robertson Street.
A spokesperson for Yates, Hastings, said: “The hospitality sector continues to face significant challenges.
"After careful consideration, and despite our best efforts, the site is no longer commercially viable and we have taken the difficult decision to close Yates, Hastings."
They added: "We would like to thank our hard-working team for their commitment and dedication. We would also like to thank our guests and the local community for their support over the years.”
Removal vans were outside the premises on Monday (September 14) taking away gaming machines.
The historic building was leased to Mr Charles Lockey between 1858–1880s, who ran and managed it as Hastings Music Hall, a key entertainment and assembly venue for decades.
On November 6 186 Charles Dickens performed public readings of his prose works, including A Christmas Carol and The Pickwick Papers. The building still has a blue plaque to denote this.
In 1875, the building changed to being the Public Hall Assembly Rooms, but from 1913 to 1978 went back to public entertaining by being a cinema. It’s last incarnation was The Orion cinema.
At street level it became a large branch of W H Smiths, until Smiths re-located to the new Priory Meadow shopping centre. A fashion shop called JAX also occupied part of the building.
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Yates at 53-57 Robertson St, Hastings Photo: JL
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Removal vans outside Yates in Robertson Street, Hastings Photo: JL