A BOURNEMOUTH bar, known for supporting underground music, is to close this weekend.

iBar on Holdenhurst Road in the town centre hosted gigs by hardcore bands and DJ sets from drum ‘n’ bass stars.

It was launched in 2007 as high-tech digital bar, with internet access and plasma screen visuals, by Andy Davidson, the creator of the computer game Worms.

But it also hit the news after being fined £3,000 in April this year for having 24 electrical faults.

The club blamed its “poor financial standing” for not getting the work done sooner.

The drum ‘n’ bass night night Subsoil announced it is hosting its last event there from 10pm to 5am this Saturday.

A spokesman for the night said: “The iBar has been a staple of the underground music scene since it opened.”

The Dorset-based music website The Rock Regeneration said: “The sad news iBar is closing on August 14 has come as a bitter blow to the whole Bournemouth music scene.

“The team has had the pleasure of attending many great nights there and although the venue did not provide the best of facilities, the spirit of a blossoming music scene was developing.”

Acts that played there included Frank Turner, Hadouken!, Gallows and Does It Offend You, Yeah?

The venue was small and seemed to have a devoted following.

Guitarist Rob Murray from Bournemouth-based Rapids!, who have recorded for BBC Radio 6, said: “It was one of few small venues in Bournemouth allowing local bands to support touring acts.

“Plus it was near the University halls of residence and it had a kind of community scene – the same people going every week.”

Joanna Stass, a Bournemouth University student, said: “The Lost in Stereo night gave fans of pop punk and hardcore somewhere to hang out and meet like minded people.”

Police briefly closed iBar during January.

General manager Leigh Simmons called them “heavy-handed” and put the incident down to briefly misplaced piece of paperwork.

He could not yesterday be contacted about the closure.