JUST months after opening, XOXO in Bournemouth has closed its doors.

Details were very limited on what will be taking over the space, although an XOXO spokesperson confirmed the site was being taken over by a “big national operator”.

The restaurant opened in the square in October last year, taking over what was the Dancing Moose.

READ MORE: The new restaurants that have opened in Dorset this year

The Bournemouth site was one of three locations occupied by XOXO, also being based in Brighton and Southampton – where it was founded.

XOXO offered breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails in Bournemouth, as well as bottomless brunch.

However, it seems the Square will see more change, just months after it was announced the Ivy was moving in.

The famous London restaurant is taking over the New Look site, with developers saying it would raw visitors from further afield.

A planning statement submitted by Pegasus Group on behalf of the applicant said if alternative uses other than retail are not considered for the town centre, such as restaurants, units will remain closed.

“More and more vacant units will begin to appear in the town centre and as a result, the town centre will become vacant, and the vitality and vibrancy of the town centre will be seriously affected,” the statement said.

“Retailers are struggling at present and more and more retail units are being forced to close.

“This is for a number of reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the cultural shift towards online shopping.

“Town and city centres are seeing more leisure, restaurant and bar uses within town centres to bring people back to these areas and improve their vitality and vibrancy.

“People are now opting to use town and city centres for socialising and enjoying the food and drink offer, as opposed to visiting for shopping.”

READ MORE: Bournemouth New Look store to turn into The Ivy

Its one of a number of new cafes and restaurants to open in Dorset this year.

M’s Bakery, a popular family-run Pokesdown bakery branched out and opened a second shop in Christchurch in June.

Mexican food chain Tortilla opened its first Dorset branch in May in Bournemouth town centre,

Hundreds of people queued outside the restaurant in Old Christchurch Road for a chance to enjoy some free food in a one-off giveaway.

BigWigs Bakery opened its second store in Westbourne during the early May bank holiday weekend, a little more than a year after the Tuckton branch launched.

Pi Pizza opened in Poole Quay, Moka Pot opened in Westbourne and COSMO with a robot waiter opened in St Peter’s Road.