Sale forces 'gutted' bar owner to close down

Rotorua bar Barbarella will be closing its doors in six weeks - for good.
The building, which was being leased to owner and founder of Barbarella Jon Armstrong, has been sold and he has six weeks to leave.
Mr Armstrong has owned the business for 12 years and in that time has hosted some of New Zealand's leading bands and artists such as the Datsuns, D4, the Mint Chicks and Anika Moa.
He found out last Friday the building had been sold and the new owners didn't want a tenant.
He had thought the building would be sold to an investor who would have been happy for his business to stay and was "totally gutted" that had not happened, especially as the bar had provided a venue for alternative music.
Mr Armstrong's last day in business will be April 8.
"I'm absolutely gutted, I cried on Friday night," Mr Armstrong said.
He said he should have worked out a lease plan before it sold to make sure the business could stay open but had no idea he would have to leave.
The former owner of the building, Stephanie Cooper, said she was sad the bar, which had been a great establishment, would close.
"It's a shame."
Mrs Cooper sold the building because she was putting her investments elsewhere.
Mr Armstrong said he had been trying to sell the business for a while and had hoped a new owner would perhaps give it a makeover and continue running it as a successful alternative music venue and bar.
He had struggled with patronage over the years and it had never really been a successful bar but he had been able to keep it open and believed it provided a good venue for alternative bands.
 He had no plans to own another business in Rotorua and wanted to take a long holiday before deciding what to do next.
Rotorua's Layla Robinson, who runs the Rotorua Metal Scene music group on Facebook, said she was sad Barbarella was closing.
"I've been going there since it opened and loved the vibe Jon had created.
"Although I don't go out as much these days, if ever I am out in Rotorua, I will go to Barb's."
She said Mr Armstrong had been very supportive of local acts, opening his doors to bands of all kinds.
"I see it as the last alternative bar in town and my friends and I will miss it and Jon very much."
Ms Robinson said she was organising some farewell gigs in the lead-up to the bar's closure.