After months of campaigning from its regulars to save the cellar music venue, including gaining support from comedian, Matt Lucas, the Wunderbar, in Midsomer Norton, is having to close its doors for good from 20th July, as the financial pressure of the restrictions imposed by the B&NES licence review, which was held in May, has proven too much.

The licensing review was held after undercover police found activity of drug sales on the premises.

The bar, which has been part of Midsomer Norton's music scene for twenty years, was allowed to keep its licence on the grounds that they employed door staff and installed CCTV cameras.

Unfortunately, the cost of extra staff has taken its toll and the bar is being forced to close.

Lucy Milner, Landlady at the Wunderbar, along with James Bull, said: "This is what we feared would happen and what we hoped we could get through."

Staff at the bar, which has hugely contibuted to the live music culture of the town, hoped that the restrictions would be eased, or lifted, if they followed the instructions set out in the licence meeting.

However, their application for a review on their restrictions was declined, with police telling them they would have to work under the conditions set out in May until November, before an application could be made.

A spokesperson for the B&NES Licensing Committee said: "The Council's Licensing Team and Avon and Somerset Police have been working with the premises license holders of the Wunderbar since the review hearing earlier this year. Both organisations are keen for the Wunderbar to be a successful business, which fully promotes the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, promoting public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting children from harm.

"In order for the applicant to propose to remove/vary the conditions, a variation application needs to be submitted to the Licensing Authority. "In view of the serious nature of the issues, which prompted the review, the licence holders are required to demonstrate that their procedures are working well before making an application to remove/vary the conditions."

Lucy said: "We're only a little bar and we're spending half our income on security. To have door staff when there are less than ten people in the room, even on our quietest days, like Wednesdays and Sundays, was ridiculous and unsustainable."

Regulars and fans of the bar were posting their dismay at the news online, with many local musicians saddened at the loss of such a venue.

The Wunderbar will be holding a finale party over the weekend of the 19th–20th July, after which, the doors will be closed for the last time.

Local band, White City Shakers, will be kicking off the evening, followed by an Open Deck Night, for past DJs to return to play the bar for the last time.

On Sunday, 20th July, the bar will be open all day into the evening.

"We hope people will come down and support our finale weekend and give the bar a good send-off," said Lucy.

No comment has yet been received by local police.