A REAL ale bar in Southampton has shut its doors two-years after opening, with its owner citing the economic climate as one of the biggest reasons it had to close.

The Tramstop Bar & Kitchen, which opened in 2016 at its premises on Portswood Road, has ceased trading.

The independent bar, which was originally a doctor’s practice, offered a range of ales and beers, as well as hot food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

But manager Matt Lucker said a combination of financial pressures and the sporadic student market left the business struggling to stay afloat.

Mr Lucker said: “What we were turning over wasn’t enough in the present economic climate, it created a real issue for us and we felt it was better to cut our losses.

“We were doing ok but the rates and rents were excessive and meant that we had to make our prices higher and we never managed to get on top of that.

“It’s a very student populated area and when they’re not around there were losses.

“We’ll have a period of reassessment and hopefully there will be some more plans in the pipeline.”

He added: “Maybe we were a bit premature in our concept of real ale and good food.

“A lot of people like real ale but we had to increase the prices for food.”

Cllr John Savage, ward councillor for Portswood, believed it was a concern that the space could be taken up by non-independent companies.

He said: “”I have to say that it is a difficult environment. “The Tramstop was a very nice place to relax and enjoy a drink and something to eat but to be successful now, that’s not good enough.“You probably need bigger and faster turnover, and I’m worried that those kind of places may contribute to the neighbourhood problems and anti-social behaviour that so many local people are concerned about.”