A popular cafe bar has announced its sudden closure after citing the 'economic climate' as its reason for shutting its doors. 

The Ivy House, which is located on Dovecot Street, Stockton, opened in July 2017 and has since become a popular venue for locals and regulars over the last six years. 

A statement on The Ivy House Facebook reads: "Unfortunately the Ivy House is now closed.

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"We hope to reopen in the future. We will be taking the time to re-evaluate and look to see how we can adapt to the extremely challenging current economic climate.

"We would like to thank our staff and our customers who have supported the pub since we opened in July 2017."

Ivy House was named after local celebrity Ivy Close, who was named the 'World's Most Beautiful Woman' by the Daily Mirror in 1908. She was often recognised as Britain's first-ever beauty queen.

Tees Inns have yet to make a comment on the pub closure and other establishments run by the company have not announced that they will be ceasing trading. Tees Inns pub company own a string of pubs across the North East including King John's Tavern in Hartlepool and Isaac Wilson in central Middlesbrough.