BCP COUNCIL has responded after a Bournemouth beach bar claimed it had no choice but to close due to ‘rules and regulations’.

The council said it had been working with the operators of the now closed Beach Hut Bar and Grill at West Cliff in a bid to “encourage them to remain on site”.

The bar was being dismantled earlier today, despite being due to remain open until October.

The Beach Hut said that due to a number of ‘rules and regulations’ it had no choice but to close.

These reportedly included: “No hens, stags and groups allowed as it encourages excessive drinking.

“No alcoholic drinks without food. Only two drinks per person.

“Food must be ordered first before drinks. Food must be ordered at the table.

“And no loud music or DJs.”

The bar says this resulted in receiving “bad reviews, a high turnover of staff and overall massive loss.”

Councillor Beverley Dunlop, portfolio holder for tourism, culture and vibrant places said: “Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is one of the UK’s top coastal destinations. As part of our efforts to make the award-winning seafront even more vibrant, we have engaged through an open tender with several operators to run a series of new attractions on the beach.

“This has contributed to the number of imaginative offerings available across our entire seafront.

“Local people expressed a preference for beach restaurants, rather than beach bars, and we have been very careful to ensure that these new venues have food as their main offer.

“It is unfortunate the operators of the Beach Hut Bar & Grill have made the decision to cease trading. We were working with the operator to encourage them to remain on site, however we wish them all the best in wherever they should choose to do business in the future.

“We believe this location provides a great opportunity to create a beach restaurant with a fresh new food offering, and it will continue to play an important part in the exciting offerings available across our world-class seafront.”

The bar opened in April and was due to remain on-site until October 2, operating every day between 10am and 10pm.

Posting on social media, a spokesperson for the bar said: "After weeks of trying to compromise, we had no choice but to close.

"Not being able to accept group bookings, turning away 70 per cent of walk ups who just wanted a drink and being constantly inspected, made our time on Bournemouth Beach a real challenge both financially and emotionally as a team.

"We're just so disappointed. But as a small business we’d rather pay the balance and cut our losses than stay and lose money.

“Thank you to all the lovely people that supported us but this is goodbye.”

Customers on social media expressed disappointment about the closure.

Customer Jim Legg, a recruitment consultant from Bournemouth, said: “It was a brilliant set up that must have cost a fortune to build and it was loved by all the customers that went including myself, such a shame to see such a good idea on our amazing beach being forced to close.”

“You only have to see from their Instagram page of the announcement that they closing just how many people are disappointed.”