It is believed a closed-up town centre restaurant will not be reopening.

A sign on the door of the deserted Simply Italian in Rochester High Street says it is shut for business.

For more than a week, attempts to reach the management for comment have been unsuccessful, but KentOnline understands the eatery has fallen victim to the lockdown.

It is the second business to have shut in that part of the town centre since the emergency measures started in March.

Pink Flamingo, a women's clothes and accessories shop opposite, has also closed.

Bosses there blamed the "uncertain economic future". Its branch in Whitstable remains open and it is also operating an online business.

Both have been in based in the historic town centre for more than a decade.

Last month, we reported how a popular eatery in Chatham had also closed due to lockdown financial pressures.

Dockside-based Boomers was an Australian-themed restaurant and a long-term tenant of the centre.

The Simply Italian premises has been a focal point of Rochester's social scene for many years.

It was the Northgate pub and afterwards became Dodgers an American-style diner.

A sister restaurant in Battle has also closed but other branches in Eastbourne and Rye, East Sussex, have reopened.

Head to our business page for all of the latest news about businesses in Kent.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway