A WELL-known Ribble Valley restaurant has closed its doors - and may never re-open, according to the owner.

The Plate, at Backridge, served its final customers last month due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ and the building’s owner said he was struggling to find new tenants.

Nine people lost their jobs when the restaurant, near Waddington, closed just before Christmas and Richard Drinkall, who owns Backridge Farm where the business is based, said he was considering selling the eatery on.

The restaurant, which was opened in 2008, underwent a £10,000 refurbishment in June when the most recent tenants took over.

Mr Drinkall said business rates of around £14,400 a year made it difficult to turn a decent profit. The site currently houses 20 other businesses which are unaffected by the restaurant’s closure.

Mr Drinkall said: “It has been a struggle recently to keep the restaurant going and it’s a shame that it has come to this.

“It has become too dear to open the doors in the first place.

“We were doing everything right with the food and the service but if you have high business rates it eats into what you can take out of the restaurant. I’m currently attempting to find a new tenant but I’m also seriously considering selling it off or changing the use of the building into office space.”

The farm is located in Twitter Lane and also includes businesses such as specialist retailers, artists, craftsmen and designers.