The owner of a popular Carlisle bar repossessed in a dispute over rent arrears has taken legal action to save the business.

Moo Bar, in Devonshire Street, closed suddenly last week and owner Nigel Tarn yesterday asked a district judge to intervene to halt the eviction, saying he is trying to resolve the issue.

District Judge Simon Smith refused but key details about the fall-out between Mr Tarn and his Glasgow based landlord emerged.

Carlisle County Court heard that in June the business owed £21,000 in rent – and Mr Tarn said he offered to hand over more than £12,000 of that.

He told the judge: “The rent was paid up until the situation when Carlisle had the flood and that's when we had difficulties. Our trade was completely eradicated.”

Mr Tarn said the landlord's agent had the locks changed and as a result £15,000 worth of perishable stock – including real ale – has gone off.

“I have spent £120,000 on improving the property, and gave them a £16,000 rental deposit,” he said.

Mr Tarn accepted he was offered access to the property for two hours last Friday to collect equipment and stock, but he said: “We want to find a resolution and continue trading.

“There are 600 members of the public who have signed a petition who want us to remain where we are. We've made every effort to pay the rental arrears.”

District Judge Smith pointed out that Mr Tarn had “knocked” something off the rent. But he said if he was in a position to pay off the full arrears he was entitled to challenge the lease forfeiture.

Deborah Goodland, for Walton Goodland, the agent for the Glasgow based owner of the Devonshire Street building, said: “It's a straight forward arrears matter.”

That meant the tenant was in breach of the lease agreement, which could as a result was forfeited. The judge said the application would be considered at a lengthier hearing today.

After the hearing, Mr Tarn said the floods had a devastating impact on Moo Bar, and he suffered ill health last autumn. "We just want to be given a chance," he said.