Champagne Charlies drink the place dry.

Byline: By Julie Wilson 

Revellers have drunk a bar dry of vintage champagne costing pounds 1,000 a bottle.

Since it opened last summer, drinkers have knocked back 16 bottles of top-of-the-range vintage bubbly at the Apartment Luxebar in Newcastle city centre.

The bar has just sold its last bottle of Dom Perignon vintage 1959, for pounds 1,200.

Even the suppliers, Moet Hennessy, are completely out of stock.

The next available vintage is the 1962 Dom Perignon, and that, too, is quickly selling out.

The Apartment has the last remaining bottle under lock and key, and is selling it at pounds 980.

The Apartment has the North East's first private members' club and has attracted the cream of Tyneside's sporting and showbiz stars since opening in June. For those on a budget, Laurent Perrier Cuvee Alexandra Rose 1990 is available at just pounds 295 a bottle.

Purchaser and trainee manager Stephen Couzens said: "I used to run a wine bar in Surrey and was really surprised when I moved here to see how much wealth the bar attracts.

"Half the people are businessmen here for work and we also get the odd famous footballer.

"Even so, I'm surprised these top-end vintages have been snapped up so quickly.

"I think we offer people options that they might not be able to get elsewhere in the city.

"We strive for exclusivity without the snobbery that can go hand-in-hand with that.

"If customers want it, then we can provide something that bit special, without excluding anyone."

The bar, in Collingwood Street, is the brainchild of accountant Duncan Fisher.

Besides its 100 paying members, the Apartment already has 5,200 so-called privilege members allowed to join up for free.

If spirits are more your cup of tea, a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka is on offer for pounds 75 - that's a reasonable pounds 2.67 a shot, based on 28 shots per bottle - and a bottle of Jack Daniels can be had for pounds 70.