Former employees at one of Exeter's best known bars claim they have not been paid thousands of pounds in wages.

Staff at the Bierkeller say they stopped working at the popular venue on Exeter Quay after being told they would not receive over a month's worth of pay.

The Bierkeller's former manager Dom Boull is one of those who say they have been affected.

He claims he is still owed more than £1,500 in wages.

"I was on a salary as the manager for four months and every single pay day was late," said Mr Boull, 20.

The entrance to the BierKeller
The entrance to the BierKeller

"When the early May Bank Holiday came round we were told that we hadn't been paid yet because of the long weekend and it would come the following Monday.

"But a week later all the staff were called in one-by-one and given the bad news that they wouldn't get their money.

"I was the last one to be told what was going on.

"Most people left at that point but I was told that I would get the money in cash if I stayed on.

"Not being paid had financially broken me and I felt I had no choice but to work for another two weeks in case I got my money.

"But that never happened and I couldn't take it any longer.

The bar offers 26 different draught beers
The bar offers 26 different draught beers

"I'm owed £1,527 as I was the cleaner as well as the manager.

"I believe the overall wage bill was about £4,000."

Dom has since gone on to work at a different night-time venue in the city but says his former team has been badly affected by what happened.

"I like to see the best in everyone and rise above things but it got worse and worse as time went on," he added.

"We were such a close team and loved working with each other but were left devastated by not being paid.

"I was struggling to pay the rent and it's been extremely stressful."

Two other members of staff who did not wish to be named have also contacted independently to claim they have not been paid.

The Bierkeller opened to much fanfare in February 2017, replacing pizzeria Pizza Stein.

Inside Exeter's new BierKeller
Inside Exeter's new BierKeller

The venue boasted an 'après ski-style', showing live sport and an extra-long bar serving 26 different draught beers from Germany, Europe and Britain.

It remains Exeter's first and only Bavarian beer hall, with celebrities to have previously appeared including Steve McFadden, Chesney Hawkes and Frank Bruno.

Andy Isaac, the Bierkeller's former general manager, told that he quit the venue in February after 'seeing staff repeatedly being paid late'.

"I've worked in the industry for years and have run bars all over the world but have never come across something so bad," he said.

"There was a really nice young team down there who just wanted to work hard and get paid.

"It's quite shocking that people haven't been paid."

Online records show that Brian Phillips became the boss of Bierkeller's parent company 4 The Quay Ltd on June 1.

Mr Phillips has not responded to Devon Live's repeated requests for comment.