ONE of Bolton's newest town centre bars has closed just a few months after opening.

Cafe Bar 2-10, at the junction of Bradshawgate and Deansgate, was only opened in August after owners Deepak Kotecha and David Holmes ploughed More than £200,000 into refurbishing the former restaurant. But mounting debts have forced the pair to close and put the building's lease up for sale.

Mr Kotecha, who also owns the Victoria British Queen and Crofters in Bolton and Q's American Pool in Farnworth, blamed the demise of the bar on the size of the premises.

He explained that although trade was busy on the Friday and Saturday evenings the bar was not large enough to hold all the customers who wanted to get in.

"Fridays and Saturdays were always busy. People were having to queue up to get in," said Mr Kotecha.

Staff were unable to serve enough customers to make a profit and with losses running into thousands the owners decided to call it a day.

There has been an explosion of wine bars in Bolton in recent months, with the Dali Bar, Elements and Tiger Feet opening alongside Cafe Bar 2-10 on Bradshawgate, and Pepper Alley on Manor Street, The Goose on Deansgate and Life Bar in Nelson Square.

But despite his bar going under Mr Kotecha does not feel there are too many similar establishments in the town centre.

"I think the more bars there are the better," he said.

In retrospect Mr Kotecha says he would have been better opening his bar in different premises and has not ruled out such a move in the future.

It's last orders for town centre bar

Debts force town centre bar to shut