A POPULAR  Top of The Town restaurant has suddenly closed.

French style restaurant chain, Café Rouge, in Winchester Street, Basingstoke closed its doors on Sunday after its lease came to an end.

In a message on its website, Café Rouge said: “Café Rouge Basingstoke is unfortunately closing its doors permanently on the 31st May. Thanks to all our loyal customers over the years.”

The chain is owned by Tragus Group Limited and since its launch in 1989, over 120 restaurants have been opened across the UK.

It was given the green light by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to refurbish the premises in Winchester Street in 1997 to open a store in the town.

When The Gazette approached the company for a statement, they refused to confirm how many jobs would be lost following the restaurant closure and said the chain hopes to open a new restaurant in Basingstoke.

A spokesman for Café Rouge said: “By agreement with the landlord, the lease on our Winchester Street restaurant has come to an end.

“Café Rouge recently embarked on an ambitious growth and investment programme that will see us open many new restaurants in the next three years – creating hundreds of jobs.

“As part of this opening programme, we hope to identify a new restaurant site in Basingstoke, and look forward to being able to return to the town as soon as possible.”