FLASHBACK: John Saddique and Shoaib Patel at the opening event

ONE of the biggest Indian restaurants in East Lancashire has closed its doors.

Shere Khan, based in a former Audi car showroom in Eanam, Blackburn, shut four weeks ago for "maintenance works."

But the notice which informed customers of routine works and apologised for any inconvenience has now been replaced by round the clock security on the site.

The restaurant first opened its doors last May and has been run by Shoaib Patel along with partner John Saddique, who runs similar franchises in Birmingham.

A spokesman for the Patel family said Mr Patel initially closed the 270-seater restaurant, which has a separate function room, during negotiations to take sole control of the business.

"The building is owned by Adhan Group of Companies and Shoaib has been offered the lease for £500,000 plus VAT.

"That was too much money.

"We are not involved with Shere Khan any more and as far as we are concerned the restaurant will remain closed unless we can reach agreement over the lease or somebody else takes over the site."

One security guard who is monitoring the property said he had been told that the business could be closed for months.

David Cottam, president of Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, said: "I heard that the restaurant wasn't doing as well as they expected a few weeks ago."

Coun Akthar Hussain, ward councillor for Shear Brow ward which covers town centre, said: "A lot of people have told me it has closed.

"It sells good food and it catered for small Asian weddings.

"But there are so many restaurants in Blackburn.

"It is a shame. It should continue and reopen again because we want to see Blackburn town centre grow."

A spokesman for the Adhan Group of Companies, which is based in Preston New Road, Blackburn, said there were "quite a few issues" they were dealing with and could not comment further on the situation.

The Shere Khan Group already has five restaurants spread across the North including one in Rusholme, Manchester, and one in Sheffield but nobody from the firm was available to comment.

Mr Saddique could not be contacted to comment.

9:13pm Monday 24th March 2008

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