A POPULAR Winchester city centre restaurant has closed with immediate after the owner sold the lease.

Bangkok Brasserie on Jewry Street has shut, announced Miff Kayum this afternoon.

The lease has been sold for an undisclosed sum to a vendor yet to be confirmed but believed to be Bournemouth-based Koh Thai Tapas.

The Chronicle reported that his other two eateries Bengal Sage and Kyoto Kitchen has gone into liquidation with debts of £170,000.

Kyoto Kitchen, a Japanese restaurant in Parchment Street, is however still trading.

In a statement to the Chronicle, Miff admitted he was "not a businessman" and said: “It’s very sad that I have had to sell Bangkok Brasserie – a project I have put my heart and soul into - but the new owner will continue to offer Thai food and I wish him all the best.

"Over the last few years, the climate for independent restaurants in Winchester has become very difficult due to a whole range of chain eateries coming into the city. My restaurants have been a victim of this and I have seen a substantial drop in business - something that I have commented on many times before.

"However, I continue to be a restaurateur running Kyoto Kitchen which will remain in business and everyone can be reassured they will be able to enjoy award-winning Japanese food here in Winchester.

"I have built up a proud reputation for quality and service and I know that people have appreciated that over the years and I’m extremely grateful for that support.

"Sadly, it’s fair to say I am a restaurateur and not a business man and it’s also fair to say I have learnt a lot from the experience and I look forward to putting those lessons into practice as I take Kyoto Kitchen forward.

"I would very much like to stress that all my liabilities will be paid as far as is possible, and I would like to acknowledge the support of my local suppliers and landlords during this time – they have been simply brilliant.

"I love this city, where I have grown up from humble beginnings, and I’m very sorry if anyone feels I have let them down. If this is the case, I hope they will accept my sincere apologies because it was never my intention to get into difficulties.

"Finally, I would like to add that no-one has been made redundant."

Koh Thai Tapas confirmed the purchase of its second site in Hampshire in a statement this afternoon.

The group continues their expansion across the UK and unveils a new target of 40 sites opened or in the pipeline by 2021.

It is expected that a series of acquisitions will be completed soon, with 2 sites exchanged upon and 5 sites in advanced legals confirming the groups pipeline until 2018.

The new restaurant in Winchester will be the third of the group's smaller Koh Noi concepts with a bar area and around 50 covers.

The company aims to average four to five restaurants per year through a combination of their signature Koh Thai Tapas concept and openings of the Koh Noi brand.

Koh Founder and chief executive Andrew Lennox, said: “Winchester is a city that has been in our sights for over three years, we have looked at countless sites in the city but none of them have ever been right.

"To be on Jewry street, with a small bar-led site having acquired the main Thai competition in the city is a dream combination and we are really excited about bringing our signature Thai Tapas experience to the town. We are also excited that this will be our third Koh Noi - Good things do come in small packages”.

Chris Bickle, director of licensed leisure at Savills, who organised the deal, added: “We are delighted to have secured an off market sale of this property to the Koh Group. We continue to see evidence that interest in Winchester’s leisure market is growing with high demand from corporate and independent restaurant and pub operators. “