Nine milk bottles have been left to go sour at a Winchester cafe/bar that closed suddenly this week.

The Autumn House on The Square announced on Monday that it was closing until further notice.

Nine four-pint milk bottles have been left on the floor inside the entrance and have been steadily going spoilt in the warm weather.

They cost around £1.50 each so around £14 has been wasted.

READ MORE HERE: Winchester cafe/bar closes suddenly

At the start of the week they were stacked neatly but since then as they have gone off the gas inside each bottle has expanded causing them to fall over.

Sooner or later the screw tops will fail and the sour milk will explode across the floor, leaving a chronic unpleasant smell that will be difficult to ger rid of.

The rest of the premises is well stocked with alcohol and a a drinks fridge. There is also a bucket full of crisps.

Alex Donnan and Laura Turner, owners of The Pump House, in Garnier Road, St Cross, opened Autumn House in May 2022.

Hampshire Chronicle: Milk left inside Autumn House

Tuesday: Milk left inside Autumn House

The café and wine bar replaced the long-standing Dinghams Cookshop, which closed at the beginning of last year when it could no longer afford to pay its rent to the landlords  Winchester City Council.

In September, the café was given a hygiene rating of one at its first inspection, with manager at the time Reece Comberbach claiming the venue was not prepared as a “start-up and new business”.

Mr Donnan and Ms Turner also used to own The General Store, across the road in The Square, but the shop and café was taken over by new owners and under a different company in February.

The Pump House has been contacted for further information.