TWO Bournemouth nightspots have closed their doors without warning.

Bliss and Chilli White in St Peter’s Road, Bournemouth are “temporarily closed,” according to their websites.

On Bliss’s Facebook page, a message simply states: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, Bliss will not be open tonight.” And on social networking site Twitter, a message said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances we are not open tonight, we’ll keep you updated with what’s going on as and when we know.”

Customers who had booked tables at Bliss for this weekend have also had their bookings cancelled.

Both venues are part of the Yellowhammer Bars estate, which is run by Volante Management.

Last year the company reported disappointing financial results and sold off a number of venues. And subsidiary Company Time, which operated around 20 venues, including Bliss in Bournemouth, was placed into administration this time last year.

The company said last year: “Reduced consumer spending has continued to hit the sector hard and we report an 18 per cent decline in year-on-year same-outlet sales.”

In the lack of any official explanation, disappointed clubbers have been posting messages on social networking site Twitter.

One tweet said the news had “thrown the whole of Bournemouth Uni into a frenzy” while another said: “I need confirmation of the potential closure of arguably the best night out in Bournemouth – Bliss Tuesdays, anyone?!”

Bournemouth’s night-time economy co-ordinator Jon Shipp, inset, said: “This comes as a surprise. I’m hoping that whatever issues there may be will be fully resolved. The premises are key participants in a lot of our initiatives to improve standards in Bournemouth’s night-time economy and hopefully they still will be.”

But Bournemouth cabinet member Cllr Dave Smith, whose portfolio includes the night-time economy, said he “wasn’t the least bit surprised.”

“This is a very difficult business to be in these days,” he said.

“Pre-loading is a big issue and it remains to be seen whether the minimum alcohol pricing strategy will have any effect on that.

“People are spending less when they’re out and bars and clubs are staying open longer, which increases their costs.

“If these venues do not reopen, maybe there will be an opportunity to move away from the noisy vertical drinking establishments and have a different sort of night-time economy in Bournemouth.”

Attempts to speak to someone at Yellowhammer Bars were unsuccessful.