A bitter taste has been left in the mouth of village traders after a restaurant they supplied suddenly closed down owing thousands of pounds.

Mortons in Kinver has shut after opening just five months ago.

Bosses from Kinver Butchery say they are owed £2,300.Owners Brian and James Hartland supplied Mortons with all its meat products.

“It’s a real kick in the teeth for a small business,” said James Hartland. “We just can’t afford to have money go down the drain especially with this credit crunch.

“We have no idea why the restaurant has suddenly closed.”

The restaurant in High Street is owned by Gary Morton.

When the Express & Star spoke to him today he said the business had not gone as well as he hoped and the premises were now on the market.

Visitors to the village were left surprised to see the venue closed up and in complete darkness.

Mr Morton denied claims diners were owed deposits for bookings made but said there was an outstanding payment of £2,300 owed to Kinver Butchery.

And he pledged the outstanding cash would be paid. He said: “The restaurant is on the market and when it is sold as a going concern any debts will be settled.

“I hope that the butchers will not have to wait long to get their money back.

“There was one deposit made for a Christmas eve booking and I emailed that person to tell them I had ripped up the cheque.

“I was left without a chef a couple of weeks ago and tried to get a relief but when that was not possible that was the final straw.

“If anyone has been left out of pocket it is me for a lot of money.”

He added he had spent a lot of money refurbishing the building which fronts the High Street. Previous owners Tom and Sarah Hughes ran the Kinfayre Bar and Bistro which opened in 2005. 

They spent £300,000 revamping the historic building to turn it into a new bar and bistro. The venue partly dates back 400 years and has been used as a bed and breakfast.

The restaurant is next door to the village’s shopping arcade.