Pad Thai Live in Gravesend Borough Market to shut

A popular Thai restaurant has been forced to leave the market after getting a three-star hygiene rating.

Pad Thai Live, in Gravesend Borough Market, shut on Saturday (September 28) following warnings from Hatch Markets to improve its hygiene.

Announcing the closure on the restaurant’s social media pages, owner Richy Williams said he was devastated after being told to get out “with just four days notice”.

But Jamie Clark, who took over the running of the market with Thomas Mudge in June, said it was not a rash decision.

“We want to make it clear that terminating a trader’s licence is and always will be an absolute last resort once all other avenues have been exhausted,” he said.

“Pad Thai Live cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ with us as the reason for their departure, which is a claim we deny.

“Their licence was terminated due to repeated and deliberate breaches of the terms of their licence some of which we won’t be discussing publicly.

“The terms are there to ensure things such as high hygiene standards, the safety of customers and the wellbeing of the market - none of which are negotiable.”

“One of the specific terms is that all traders must achieve and maintain a level 5 hygiene rating.”

An inspection was carried out on September 3 and Pad Thai Live was rated Generally Satisfactory for hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety. They were rated a three.

He added: “We had been in discussion with the owners since June with concerns about their unit that required immediate attention.

“Sadly instead of making any improvements over the 12-week period, standards only slipped even further. A final warning was sent that unless significant improvements were made immediately we would be left with no choice but to cease their trading at Hatch.”

Richy Williams, who has run the restaurant for the past seven years, said: “After irreconcilable differences with the new operators of the market we were told to have our entire restaurant removed from the premises in four days.

He said factors beyond their control were also involved as his other restaurants boast five-star ratings.

He said: “It indicates the difficulties of working within a unit that is not fit for purpose.

“Sadly our loyal staff, many Gravesend residents, who have worked in the market for many years, have lost their jobs due to the shortsightedness of the new management.”

He is now looking for a new location in Gravesend for the business.

Mr Williams also claimed the operators refused to help with issues around over flowing bins and poor water supply. The operators disagreed with the claims and say the problems had not been raised with them.

A council spokesman said: “The business has been asked to leave the market by the operators as they have failed to comply with the terms of their lease.

“This included issues around food hygiene standards, and the recent award of a three-star food hygiene rating which is below the standard required to trade at the market.”

Pad Thai Live’s other branches are open as usual in Royal Star Arcade, Maidstone, Dockside Outlet Centre, Chatham and at The Beach Bar, Maidstone.