MYSTERY surrounds the closure of a Port Glasgow pub which has suddenly called last orders.

The Comet Bar on King Street was yesterday shut, leaving regulars puzzled as to why the doors were closed.

It is understood the town centre pub closed down on Monday evening — but so far there has been no explanation about the circumstances surrounding the move.

A Tele source said the closure was believed to be ‘temporary’, adding that the closure was ‘no fault of the owners, staff or customers’.

It is understood that attempts are being made to reopen the popular pub as quickly as possible, but it is so far unclear as to when that could happen.

Nobody from the bar was available when the Telegraph called yesterday.

There has been a Comet Bar in the town for more than 100 years, but in several different locations.

The original is said to have been on the corner of John Wood Street, which is now the Prince of Wales.

There was also a Comet Bar on Scarlow Street along the road from where the current pub stands.

It shares its name with the famous Port-built paddle steamer PS Comet, of which there is a replica in the town centre, close to the popular bar.

The original Comet was launched in 1812 at John Wood’s yard having been built for Sir Henry Bell.

She began a passenger service in the same year on the Clyde between Glasgow and Greenock and was the first commercially successful steamboat service in Europe.

The vessel was shipwrecked in strong currents near Oban on 13 December 1820.