Last night we went for the last drinks at Liquid before it closed for good. There were quite a few people there. I think they will come up with something else but in the meantime, its going to be quiet nights for me.

(more from Coventry Telegraph)

A POPULAR bar in Coventry city centre will close at the end of this week.

Liquid bar in the City Arcade is the latest in a line of independent bars finding it difficult to survive in the intense economic climate.

Co-owner Barrington Kenion admits to racking up £20,000 in council tax arrears and says he has no choice but to close the venue after a farewell party on Saturday.

The bar, which won the lifestyle category of the Godiva Awards 2006, opened nearly three years ago, and hosts events for local poets.

Last week the Coventry Telegraph reported how traders in the City Arcade said they were facing a bleak future, with many on the brink of closure.

Mr Kenion says other neighbouring businesses are also in dire straits.

Mr Kenion's wife, Jane, who also owns the bar, will be unable to attend the club's last event.

She is on holiday in Dubai because of stress caused by the bar's cash-flow issues.

Mr Kenion said: "I still believe that Liquid is a brilliant bar and the city needs a bar like it, but I could not keep it open with the £20,000 I owe the council and other overheads.

"I'm not going to bash the council because staff have been really good to me and offered me opportunities to carry on in the past - I know they wanted Liquid here.

"But more needs to be done to support independent businesses in Coventry. I know a lot of traders are in the same trouble as me. The council is focusing too much on attracting the big names."

Mr Kenion would like to reopen Liquid but says it will only be possible if he can raise at least £15,000.

Liquid is a well-loved haunt for poets and other creative people and hosts regular open mic events which offer individuals space to air their talents.

Jon Morley, manager of the coventry-based publisher Heaventree Press, says the sudden closure will be a huge loss.

He said: "The news is a great shame. As an organisation we hold monthly open mic nights there and it's going to be difficult for us to find other venues because there aren't many around which cater for our needs.

"I believe the closure will be very damaging for the city and it's a shame so many venues are being slowly squeezed out."