A popular Southampton restaurant and bar has been forced to shut its doors until further notice as a result of scaffolding that has been up for more than a year.

Scaffolding was put up at the Sundowner building in Ocean Village, Southampton, on July 12, 2023, and since November 2023, but work on its cladding seem to have stalled.

One of the city’s most popular bars, Pitcher and Piano is located on the ground floor of the Sundowner building with stunning views over the marina.

As reported in the Echo on October 6, a notice was put on the doors of the bar stating that: “Due to maintenance issues, we are closed until further notice.”

The doors to Picher and Piano in Ocean VillageThe doors to Picher and Piano in Ocean Village (Image: NQ) The company behind the restaurant chain, Marston’s, has now revealed that these ‘maintenance issues’ are a direct reference to the impact of the scaffolding surrounding the building.

A spokesperson said: "The closure is due to the impact of ongoing scaffolding in place. We will be re-opening once we have clarity."

Sundowner resident Richard Betts, 53, said: “I myself spoke to a member of staff from Pitcher and its clear that its profits have taken a real hit as a result of the scaffolding.

“People think the building is abandoned even though we are all still in here.

“All the staff in Pitcher and Piano have had to put their lives on hold now as a result of the works being dragged out.

“This is one of the restaurants that brought people down to Ocean Village – I'm worried about the area’s future.

“If they don’t keep Ocean Village alive it will die.”

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Barratt Developments is the company undertaking the works on the Sundowner building and apologised for the impact of the scaffolding.

A spokesperson for Barratt Developments said: “We are sorry that Pitcher and Piano is closing but the scaffolding is needed to deliver important safety works to the Sundowner building.”

It is understood by the Echo that the works being undertaken on the Sundowner building, to replace the cladding around the building, were expected to be finished in spring 2024.