THE business empire of a well-known Winchester restaurateur appears to have fallen apart.

Two of local entrepreneur Miff Kayum’s three restaurants have gone bust with public records showing the businesses owed more than £170,000.

Both Bengal Sage and Kyoto Kitchen have gone into liquidation, although the latter is still trading. As reported, Bengal Sage, in the Casson Block on St George’s Street, closed its doors in February after five years.

Documents at Companies House reveal the amount owed to creditors is £13,920 and £71,692 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. Kyoto Kitchen, in Parchment Street, is also listed on Companies House as in liquidation, with a winding up started on April 6.

Its documents say the amount the company owed to the taxman is £67,642 and £18,466 to creditors.

However, the restaurant remained open for business as normal on Tuesday evening. The future of Bangkok Brasserie in Jewry Street, which is also run by Mr Kayum, is unclear though it was still operating normally this week as was Kyoto Kitchen.

It is a favourite with Oscar winner Colin Firth and the restaurant even named a dish after him.

The Chronicle understands that Mr Kayum is in talks to sell the lease to Koh Thai Tapas, a chain started in Bournemouth, which has branches across the south and south west including Southsea, Bath, Bristol and Salisbury.

Mr Kayum was asked for comment but declined to discuss the issue. Sophie Cox, Koh Thai Tapas’s director of operations, said: “I am unable to comment at this time. Please come back to me and there may be an information update.”

At the time of the closure of Bengal Sage, Mr Kayum said the reason was the amount of work he had to juggle running three establishments. He said he had taken action to reduce his workload.

Scores of people took to social media to express their disappointment at its closure with many surprised at the move as the business had been so popular.

Mr Kayum runs his establishments with brother Shah. Winchester-born, he grew up in a council house in Highcliffe, attended Westgate and Peter Symonds College.

He is involved in many charitable causes and is also the secretary for the Winchester Muslim Cultural Association.

Among the charities he has supported, hosting fundraising evenings, is the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group which campaigns for asylum seekers. In 2011, after running a successful restaurant in Southampton, Miff sold The Tiffin Club, in Oxford Street, and returned to Winchester.

The aim was to recreate high-quality Asian cuisine using authentic recipes picked up on his travels, whilst working with the best local suppliers. Mr Kayum was known to be frustrated at city council delays in upgrading the area outside the Casson Block.

A business source, who asked not to be named, said: “Both Bengal Sage and Kyoto Kitchen are in liquidation. The danger is some people find it difficult to separate turnover from the underlying profit, and don’t consider things like PAYE and VAT at 20 per cent. They were successful restaurants, always crowded.”