Another Regent Circus unit has been left vacant after Coal Grill and Bar shut its doors unexpectedly.

The restaurant is locked up with the lights off and a sign on the door which reads “Sorry we’re closed until further notice”.

Staff at Prezzo next door said Coal closed on January 7 and had been told it was part of a nationwide closure.

Branches in Telford and Sheffield have also closed in recent weeks and the company's website has removed the information about its Swindon eaterie - listing only restaurants in Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester and Basingstoke.

The news comes as another setback to Regents Circus, which saw Morrisons close before Christmas.

There are also fears in the town Cineworld could be set to follow – although this was denied by the cinema chain yesterday.

The town centre complex originally planned for seven food outlets but opened in 2015 with only five of those filled.

Of those five Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Coal have closed, leaving Nando’s, Prezzo and Ask Italian remaining.

A sixth unit was filled by Tiffins in 2017 but that shut last year.

A spokesman for Coal said: “The Coal Grill and Bar restaurant group is going through a company restructure in order to protect as many jobs as possible by continuing to trade in a challenging economic climate.

"Unfortunately there are some restaurants where we have been unable to secure the trading terms which would allow us to continue operating.”