A POPULAR expat watering hole in Didim has suddenly gone ‘top-less’ after a shock decision, it has emerged.

Carol Thomas, who has taken over the Wine House, just off Ataturk Boulevard, left her Turkish and mainly British regulars stunned, but hugely supportive, after a radical make-over.

Red-haired Welsh-born Carol decided to let it all hang out and un-peel the business giving drinkers and passers-by an eyeful.

But in reality, Carol is fuming.

Carol had just taken over and spent the best part of 20,000TL to revamp and refit the bar, which is at the back of the former justice building, just off the roundabout on Ataturk Boulevard where you turn for the town centre.

However, last Saturday, she was handed a letter from Didim Council stating that the building was illegal and the structure needed to be pulled down.

She was given three days otherwise she would be hit with a 7,000TL fine.

It emerged that the council had acted upon a complaint from within the building complex which hosts numerous businesses.

Carol was forced to rip down the bar’s wooden surrounds and leave it to the elements. Effectively becoming an outside bar – hence, it’s top-less state.

Carol, who has lived in the town for several years, said: “It was absolutely heartbreaking, gut-wrenching to see the bar being ripped apart after I had ploughed part of my life-savings into the bar.

“Expats and Turks absolutely love the Wine House but I was left in no other position but to take the bar down.

“We must be the only bar in Didim that’s gone topless, have two fire extinguishers and no no-smoking policy.

“It’s absolutely crazy as the bar had been here for 14 years without attracting the authority’s attention. We provide support for the other business in the complex, so we all benefit. But there was one complaint and it has devastated me.”

“It was terrible to see all out hard work brought down within a matter of hours. It meant that I had to scrap the World Cup football coverage for regulars. They are still largely supportive and all say it’s a crazy, diabolical decision. But we have to adhere to the laws.”

She said: “While it’s summer and dry, we’ll be fine. But it’s terrible to keep the bar clean with the wind and being open to the elements. But what happens in the winter? We don’t know.”

She added that she may well apply to get the bar building re-covered in the following months, but was presently concentrating on the summer season.