Liquidators have locked the doors of a popular Christchurch whisky bar.

Inland Revenue forced TJ & JBG Ltd, the company that owns The Last Word on New Regent St, into liquidation on Thursday.

On Sunday, KPMG partner Andrew Hawkes confirmed TJ & JBG owed a "significant" amount of money to Inland Revenue.

Liquidators secured The Last Word on Thursday as they worked to establish what led to the company's demise, Hawkes said.

A small number of staff had been affected, he said. They were assisting with a stocktake of the bar.

"The liquidators are looking to sell the business and we've been contacted by several potential buyers."

TJ & JBG's sole director Jasper Bryant-Greene was overseas and could not be reached for comment.

Hawkes said Bryant-Greene contacted the liquidators on Friday.

TJ & JBG shareholder Ben Edwards said he was unable to comment about what had happened because "I just plain and simply don't know".

Other shareholders could not be reached for comment.

The Last Word, a whisky and cocktail lounge, opened in 2013.

It recently expanded into a neighbouring shop, doubling its seating area.