The owner of Midsomer Norton's only nightclub has warned venues are at risk of going under without more support as lockdown restrictions linger.

Shaun Hughes, an independent member of Bath and North East Somerset Council, who has stood twice in general elections against North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, has spent lockdown revamping Fat Sams but still has no idea when or even if it will be able to reopen.

He said social distancing is difficult in nightclubs but they would be safer for revellers than the illegal raves that cropped up across the country during lockdown.

Mr Hughes, who has DJed since he was a teenager, said: "We've been closed since March. Our customers definitely miss the club.

"Initially we received a small grant. Had it been a three-month shutdown that would have been a perfectly adequate amount. Now it's been going on for six months.

"Nightclubs find themselves in a unique situation. On the one side are pubs that can open under certain conditions, and on the other are theatres that are more difficult to open but are getting additional support.

"Nightclubs aren't allowed to reopen and they aren't receiving funding. I can understand why they want to support the arts but I would imagine patronage is higher in nightclubs.

"There's no Government guidance. We can't plan for anything."

Pubs started welcoming customers back on July 4, with some noticeable changes. Hand sanitiser stations, plastic screens and table service were all part of the "new normal".

A Government plan on the country's recovery from the pandemic, published in May, said: "Reopening outdoor spaces and activities (subject to continued social distancing) comes earlier in the roadmap because the risk of transmission outdoors is significantly lower."

Reopening venues where the "core purpose is social interaction (such as nightclubs) may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in the numbers of infections", it said.

Bath and North East Somerset have only seen a relatively small number of coronavirus cases, although Midsomer Norton has recently seen an outbreak.

Mr Hughes said businesses and authorities acted swiftly to contain it – care homes were asked to close and some pubs closed voluntarily – but argued there is also a risk in venues like nightclubs remaining closed.

"There are illegal raves going on but if nightclubs were open on a limited basis it would be more controlled," he said. "It's difficult to social distance in a nightclub but you could take people's temperature and have track and trace."

Mr Hughes said the lack of any updated advice of when nightclubs might be able to reopen puts the future of many venues in doubt. Fat Sams is one of a dwindling number of nightclubs in towns. He loves funky house but plays whatever keeps punters dancing.

"A lot of clubs just aren't going to reopen," said Mr Hughes.

"I think the closures will be permanent.

"We've furloughed staff. We've managed to get costs to a minimum.

"We're hoping we will be able to reopen this year. If we can't, we'll need to have a serious think about whether we will reopen."