Ponton quits the drink trade

The closure came before a licensing board hearing that could have seen their licence suspended for a second time in under a year.

Licensing chiefs first closed down the Portland Place bar for four months earlier this year after accusations that a lock-in had been held and licensing officers received a "confrontational" response when they attended. The bar reopened only one month later after the Pontons successfully appealed.

Mr Ponton said: "Sometimes it is better to cut your losses and move on. I'm finished with the licensed trade. I'm into renewable energy now.

He added: "It's become ridiculous. A lot of the things that go to the licensing board you would have sorted out yourself with the police in my first 20 years in the business. Now everything goes before the board, which is a bit silly."

During the original hearing in January, licensing leader Marjorie Thomas - a former colleague of Mr Ponton - had to leave the room during the discussion because she said she "knows the people involved" and felt it would be "inappropriate" to chair the discussion.

Another hearing was due to take place on Monday but licensing chiefs agreed to take no action after the pub was closed down voluntarily.

It is understood that the latest hearing, which could have seen councillors order for the licence to again be suspended, was called after more disturbances at the bar since it reopened and claims that some staff had been intoxicated when licensing officers attended.

The latest incidents have not been the first time that Mr Ponton has had run-ins with licensing chiefs. In May 2002, he was fined 200 after admitting allowing a 15 and 17-year-old to be served in Oz Bar, in Candlemaker Row.

A spokeswoman for the city council said that the hearing did not take place on Monday because the bar's agent "requested a continuation".

Councillor Marjorie Thomas, the city's licensing leader, said: "We agreed to a request for an adjournment for a month."

A controversial character

Tom Ponton entered public life in 1985 and quickly built up a reputation as one of the city's most colourful - and controversial - councillors.

He is a director of the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival and is well-known for his annual jazz and pies Christmas networking event.

He was always known as an outspoken Tory councillor but caused surprise in 2002 when he joined the Lib Dems, then launched a tirade against his former colleagues, branding them "a bunch of old-age pensioners".

In 2007, he squared up to Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov and attempted to treble the sale price of land that was to be used to allow Hearts to build a new main stand.

Mr Ponton lost his seat on the council that same year, but two years later announced plans to make a political comeback by standing for the Lib Dems against then Chancellor Alistair Darling in Edinburgh South-West - only to later drop the plan after the death of his mother.

He said at the time: "I think that's me finished with public life now."