The owners of Oxford's biggest live music venue say they fear for its future after expansion plans were turned down.

The owners of the Zodiac wanted to expand next door

The Zodiac wants to take over a neighbouring tile shop in Cowley Road and build a new bar and toilets, as well as extend part of its existing building.

Owners Nick Moorbath and Adrian Hicks said the expansion would mean the 750-capacity club - renowned for pulling in big-name acts such as The Strokes and Primal Scream - could take in more revellers and create up to 28 jobs.

They had also hoped the new bar, fronting Cowley Road, could open during the day to create a meeting place for Oxford musicians.

The expanded Zodiac would have taken over the entire premises of Supatile, whose owners say trade is so slack they have no choice but to move.

The plans were rejected by Oxford City Council because of concerns it would mean the loss of retail space and fears it could set a precedent in the street, where there are several vacant premises.

Councillors said they appreciated what the Zodiac had done for the city's music scene, but urged Mr Moorbath and Mr Hicks to go back to the drawing board.

Mr Moorbath said: "This is an opportunity that is not going to arise again for us.

"If we can't go ahead with this scheme, I worry about the survival of the Zodiac because we are struggling with a building that needs to be rejuvenated.

"We feel we are part of the community and we want to give Oxford a venue to be proud of." He said he had carried out a survey and found at least six retail units near to Supatile which were available to let.

He added: "Supatile need to move out and we need more space. There are other retail units which have been up to let for several months, so we feel the loss of the Supatile premises is justifiable."

The city council's chief planning officer Michael Crofton-Briggs said it could be possible for the scheme to be given the go ahead if plans included some kind of retail element.

The Zodiac, formerly known as The Venue, was set up in 1989. The two-storey venue has bars in each room and a cocktail bar downstairs.

Craig Simmons, St Mary's ward councillor and chairman of the city council's east area parliament, said: "We hope a happy resolution can be found as we want to see it continuing, adding to the vitality of east Oxford."