THE boss of Durham snooker club claims Kwik Fit is trying to force him out to make way for a £50m student accommodation scheme.

Eddie Rhodes claims the car repair giant, his landlord, has demanded a near-fivefold increase in the £7,500 annual rent he pays on Durham City Snooker and Pool Centre, off lower Claypath, which he founded 20 years ago and has run ever since.

Developer Student Castle has planning permission to demolish 18-29 Claypath, which includes Kwik Fit, the snooker club and renowned restaurant Oldfields, and build 445 student beds.

But Mr Rhodes has a lease until December 2019 and is determined to stay put until then.

A Facebook message he posted outlining his problems has been shared 136 times and reached 20,000 people – something the 66-year-old says is “absolutely tremendous”.

“I wasn’t looking for sympathy or trying to get more compensation. But they’re bullying me. They want to destroy the business so I can’t carry on.

“I think they want me out to allow Student Castle to come in.”

The club has seven pool tables and eight full-size snooker tables and around 250 members, plus many day visitors and supporters.

Mr Rhodes employs four staff and says the club makes a “decent profit”.

His rent has been frozen since 1999 and he accepts a “reasonable” rise is due but says £35,000 a year would put him out of business.

The dispute is now in the hands of an independent arbitrator, who will make a recommendation.

Kwik Fit intends to relocate to a new retail park in Dragonville.

A spokesman for the Kwik Fit Property Group said: “It’s not our wish to move, but that may be the case at some point if our landlord’s plans come to fruition.

“The snooker club is our subtenant and we don’t want them to leave before the end of their lease – there would be no benefit to us having that space vacant.

“However, the fact is that we have been unable to settle reviews of the rent for over 15 years – reviews were due in 2004, 2009 and 2014.

“Unfortunately the club has been running on financial levels based in 1999, which is clearly unsustainable. In line with our contract we have agreed that the correct rental level should be determined by an independent expert third party and we are waiting for their recommendations.”

Oldfields owner Bill Oldfield has previously said the restaurant will continue, either in its current location or a “shiny new abode nearby”. Other shops on the street have already relocated.