A restaurant in Falmouth that regularly received five-star reviews on Trip Advisor has announced it will not be reopening after lockdown.

Owners of The Hut in Quay Street said it was with great sadness that they found themselves unable to reopen, due to the new social distancing restrictions.

Tucked away off Arwenack Street in what was once a former cellar, next to The Chainlocker, the tiny little seafood restaurant had a big reputation for quality.

However, the need to separate tables and ensure social distancing means it is no longer practical to continue.

Falmouth Packet:

The Hut was a tiny restaurant tucked away in Quay Street

As a result chef-owner Damian Percival, who took over the restaurant in 2014 after working there as head chef for around 12 years before that, has found himself having to say goodbye to the customers-come-friends it had built up.

His mum Patricia, who also works at the restaurant, said: "The restaurant is very small and it couldn't do the social distancing.

"It used to be an old cellar, many, many years ago - it's tiny.

"We were trying to work it out and we could only take eight people; you can't live on eight people.

"It's heartbreaking."

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In a statement this morning the pair said: "Another one of Falmouth's lovely little restaurants has served its last plate.

"Unable to meet the new Covid and various other restrictions, Damian has ceased trading after numerous years as owner and many years as head chef.

"He and his mum Patricia would just like to say thank you for all your support. It will be really missed as many friends have been made both here and away."

It is not the only business to have fallen victim to coronavirus, with The 'Front announcing last month that it would not be renewing its lease.

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In similar circumstances, owners Sean McGee and Emma Phillips said that with new social distancing measures in place for the foreseeable future they feared it would "change the kind of place our little pub has always been."