A CHESTER city centre bar and restaurant has announced it will not be reopening in its current guise.

Izakaya Lounge, located on Pepper Street, had only opened its doors in June 2021, where it offered Pan-Asian cuisine and cocktails. It had taken the unit space previously occupied by Chimichanga.

The venue had previously announced it was closing "temporarily" in late June this year for a refit and refurb of the building, thanking customers for their support and being "excited for what is to come next".

But in a subsequent Facebook post on Monday, the venue announced: "This post is to inform our customers that Izakaya Lounge will not be reopening following its recent closure.

"We would like to thank all of our customers for your continued support.

"New owners of the premises will announce their plans shortly."

Izakaya Lounge had joined Boujee and Artezzan in opening their doors on Pepper Street in 2021, making up a quartet of food and drink destinations with the already established Opera Grill.

Also opening its doors last year, opposite the street, was the Leonardo Hotel.