A THAI restaurant in Knutsford has closed after a deal to buy the business fell through.

Phil Day said the potential Manchester-based owners had pulled out of an offer for the business in Silkmill Street.

“The restaurant side of the bar has closed until further notice,” he said.

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Mr Day took over the Freemasons Arms more than four years ago.

He then opened the Samrab Thai Restaurant in part of the building.

But, in June, Mr Day put the business lease up for sale because trade had declined too much during the recession.

Earlier this year the owner found a potential buyer, who already ran another restaurant.

The deal recently fell through and Mr Day is now back behind the bar at the Freemasons Arms, although the restaurant is closed.

“I have moved back into the bar and will be serving beer as normal for the time being,” said Mr Day.

“The restaurant is temporarily closed.”

There has been other interest in the Freemasons Arms and the Thai restaurant.

But when the Guardian spoke to Mr Day nobody else had offered to buy the businesses.

“One or two other people have been interested, but nobody has signed on the dotted line,” he said.

Earlier this year Mr Day said he could not reveal exactly how much business had gone down by.

But he told the Guardian that the reduction in trade and increases in costs had forced him to act.

At the time Mr Day said other reasons, including the illness of his mother, had also made him want to take a break.