A popular Chinese restaurant in Hinckley town centre has permanently closed its doors.
Kiki Wong, at the top of Castle Street, has been running for seven years, but owners Wendy and James Wong have decided not to renew their lease.
Wendy said that the coronavirus outbreak had an impact, and that shutting the business will give them more time to spend with their young children, aged 9 and 6.
She said: “I will miss talking to the different customers. It’s just like one big family.
“There were quite a few that came in each week, if not every two weeks.”
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Favourite dishes at the restaurant included salt and pepper prawns and chicken satay skewers.
Diners came from as far away as Rugby and Nuneaton, as well as Barwell and Earl Shilton, to eat at Kiki Wong, which was named after the owners’ first child.
Wendy and James announced the news on the venue’s Facebook page, with many customers leaving comments.
Sarah Nottingham commented: “That’s such sad news, so sorry to hear you’re closing, your food was always the best and we always enjoyed coming to your new year celebrations, all the best to all of you.”
Wendy said that it took them a while to build up their reputation due to their location.
She said: “I think there is a market in Hinckley, it’s just whether there’s a rentable place.
“It’s taken us a good few years to get it up and running, because we’re on this side of town.
“We did have lots of regulars. Getting yourself known, so people come up here, has been hard.”
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Popular Spanish restaurant Café Español, also on Castle Street, decided not to reopen after the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown.
However, fans of Far East cuisine don’t have long to wait until a new outlet opens in the town centre, as Thai food delivery service Nid’s Kitchen is taking on the former Lloyds bank branch at 10 The Borough.
Several fresh food places have opened since the restrictions eased, with The New Baron of Hinckley pub relaunching with a flame-grilled chicken menu.
Street food offering Snack Shack has opened on Rugby Road, next to the Stottie Shop, and RuSiana café bar has launched in the former home of Petite Chouette café.
The former home of The Gravity sports bar on Regent Street is also reopening as a new food and drink venue, called Revival.
