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A Birmingham city centre ping pong bar and nightclub - which opened just a year ago - has been mysteriously shut down.

Serve , which promised 'an immersive ping pong experience', launched in August 2018 - with bosses announcing plans to open further venues in Paris, New York and London.

The huge basement unit on Temple Row, which had been used a a gym in the late 90s, was converted into a food, drink and entertainment venue complete with 17 ping pong tables.

The bar was one of the city's latest alternative entertainment venues - joining the likes of Ghetto Golf in Digbeth and Lane7 bowling at The Cube.

But today, signs were stuck on the ping pong bar, advising of its closure.

The sign reads: "These premises have today been seized on the authority of the landlord. Notice is hereby served and forfeiture of lease effected.

"No unauthorised persons are permitted entry unless with the prior consent and knowledge of Debt Squared or the landlord/managing agent."

The closure appears to have been unexpected.

Yesterday (Monday, September 9), the venue was still encouraging customers to visit, writing on their Facebook page: "Wave goodbye to your Monday blues and come down to Serve tonight. Enjoy 50 per-cent off ping pong and 15 per-cent off drinks."

BirminghamLive visited the venue - formerly used as a gym - in August last year.

David Smith, Managing Partner, said at the time: "We’re delighted to have opened our very first Serve venue in the world.

"People are more demanding these days about what they want from a night out, they don’t want to just stand around drinking, they want alternatives. The concept for SERVE is really great food, really great drinks, really great music, all surrounded by an activity – in this case, ping pong.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

"Serve offers a hip, nightclub culture combined with something fun and entertaining. Ping pong social venues have taken off in the states and from the reaction we’ve had so far, it’s obviously going to be just as popular here.

"The plan is to have Serves around the world - in Paris, New York, Madrid and London. But we wanted to open our first one in the UK away from London.

"It was a case of finding the right size location. We needed a huge space - so this place ticks all the boxes. And of course there is an exciting buzz about Birmingham right now.

"We know the city is getting better and better. Birmingham will always be home to our head office and flagship space."

Serve received mixed reviews online since its opening.

On Tripadvisor, some customers praised the bars 'very friendly staff', 'awesome atmosphere' and 'great price'.

"Great place to chill out with your friends, even if you're rubbish at table tennis. Music and drinks on point," one visitor wrote.

But other customers were less than impressed, slamming the 'rude staff' and 'shocking venue'.

One scathing review, posted online just a week ago, read: "Do not go here!"

While another, posted at the end of July, read: "Absolutely shocking service. Shocking venue, shocking staff, rude door men. The place should be shut down."

BirminghamLive has approached Serve for a comment.