A Suffolk seafront bar has closed due to falling trade and 'too many fights' over the last couple of years, its owner has said.

Skye Lounge in Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe, had been at the centre of complaints from residents about noise and late night violence and had applied retrospectively to change the use of the premises from a restaurant to a sports bar with restaurant.

However, East Suffolk Council refused the application at the end of last week due to concerns about the impact of noise from the bar on nearby residents.

READ MORE: Noise and violence fears raised over Felixstowe bar plans

Stuart McConnachie, who owns Skye Lounge, said he did not know what would happen to the premises, but said a bar would not be reopening at the location.

He added: "There were several factors really, but lack of trade and too many fights in the last couple of years were the main ones."

In October, Mr McConnachie told the EADT the business initially started as a bar, but after six months he received a call from the council informing him that he had not applied for the bar use and the permission was for a restaurant and takeaway.

READ MORE: Felixstowe: Council orders Skye Lounge to stop cocktail bar

So he started selling food and using the Just Eat online takeaway service and he said the food side had overtaken alcohol sales as people were not going out and drinking as much as they used to.

He added the application for the joint sports bar and restaurant use was designed to include both the alcohol and food sides of the business.

READ MORE: Felixstowe news

However, four residents wrote to the council to object to the retrospective application.

One neighbour, Paul Coffield, said: "For a year previous the venue operated as a bar without planning, which was hell for the residents. Sadly all it caused was a lot of anti-social behaviour and noise from either loud music or the patrons outside shouting and swearing or fighting."

Mr McConnachie added the closure was 'a long time coming'. 

He said: "The second year of trading was nowhere near like the first year of trading. It was not financially viable."

READ MORE: Suffolk news