A popular County Durham steakhouse has announced it has closed its doors through a social media response.

Stirks Italian Steakhouse in Seaham has confirmed it has closed through an automated response on Facebook messenger.

In the message from their main page, the restaurant said they have closed their Seaham business.

Read more: Stirks Italian Steakhouse restaurant opens in Seaham

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo contacted the Stirks Facebook page and were greeted with the same message confirming the closure.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the restaurant said: "Hello and thank you for contacting Stirks Italian Steakhouse Seaham.

"We regret to inform you that we have now closed our restaurant in Seaham."

The steakhouse have said anyone with gift vouchers will be able to redeem them at Stirks butchers until April 30 this year.

Read more: Food prices hit 45-year high after shortages and inflation rise

The Northern Echo:

The location had opened at the former Martinos venue on North Railway Street in September last year.

Announcing their opening last year, they said: "We are pleased to announce tomorrow we open our doors to our brand new Restaurant in North Railway Street (the old Martinos Site).

"We are absolutely buzzing to be opening in Seaham and can’t wait to serve our produce daily in our newly refurbished restaurant.

Read more:

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"Our head Chef in this venue will be a lad who is very well-known locally, Tony Hall, he was head chef at the Seaton Lane Inn for 14 years until leaving to join the Stirks family business in 2018, so after a 4-year absence from Seaham, Tony returns with his fantastic new menu designed by him and our exec chef Paul Rowntree.

"See you all Soon."

The Northern Echo have contacted the restaurant's owners for more information on the closure.