OWNERS of a popular wine bar that has shut down have appointed administrators following a quiet summer of trading.

Summertown Wine Cafe in South Parade closed its doors to customers on Friday last week after seven years and appointed Critchleys in Oxford as administrators.

Valere de Weck, who is a director of the business alongside Rob Malcolm and Stephen Scheeler, told the Oxford Mail the poor economic climate and the wet weather this summer contributed to the closure.

He added: “It is very sad we have had to close.”

The second bar owned by the directors, Finborough Wine Cafe in London, also closed on Friday last week.

According to Companies House the directors’ company Eucalypt Ventures was still active as of yesterday.

Summertown resident and publisher Nicholas Hardyman said: “Everybody is very surprised and very sad.

“It really was a central meeting place in Summertown.

“It was also used during the day by people using their laptops to work.

“It was a great place and it seemed full most of the day and evening. It is a great loss.”

Fran Cundy, owner of Liscious Showroom in South Parade, said: “Having enjoyed it and used it extensively I’m sorry to see it close. They made the best coffee in Oxford.”

City councillor Stuart McCready said: “It was a very popular place, it always seemed to me to have lots of people in it, so it is very surprising.”

City councillor Jean Fooks added: “We have got a lot of coffee shops but Summertown Wine Cafe was one of the best places to go. It will be much missed.”

Summertown Wine Cafe has 262 likes on its Facebook group, and messages of support were posted.

Michelle Sandra McManus wrote: “Very sorry to hear you’ll be closing down, we loved coming in to the cafe when we were in Oxford, and would always include you in our itinerary when back for a visit. It’s a great loss to the community.”

The wine cafe opened in 2005.

Earlier this month the Oxford Mail reported on a dramatic decline in tourism this summer, with less visitors recorded at the Oxford Visitor Information Centre between May and August.