NOTTINGHAM'S oldest restaurant has closed down.

Punchinello's in Forman Street has been a restaurant since 1890 and adopted its current name in 1965.

It is owned by businessman Jim Anderson, who is boss of Le Mistral Ltd which has gone into voluntary liquidation.

The company also owns French restaurant Le Mistral in Wheeler Gate, but this is still open and no jobs have been lost.

Punchinello's closed on December 23, making 15 people redundant.

Mr Anderson said: "Sales have just fallen off the scales over the last few months. It's a victim of the high rents in that area – it's very sad."

Punchinello's was owned by the Bellamy family for 20 years before it was sold to Jay Rathour in 2006. Madoc Bellamy moved on to concentrate on Woodborough Hall, and Mr Anderson has owned the restaurant for just a year.

He said: "The middle class that frequent Punch- inello's are not coming into the town.

"Most of the similar restaurants are in cheaper locations – we are right in the high street. The restaurant is now closed."

EWS, of Park Row, are to be appointed as liquidators on Monday.

Le Mistral in Mansfield Road Sherwood is owned by a different firm, Le Mistral Restaurants Ltd, and has not been affected.

Yesterday, the Post reported that Cast Restaurant, Bar and Deli at Nottingham Playhouse had also gone into administration. It is not yet certain if any jobs are at risk. The Playhouse's chief executive, Stephanie Sirr, said: "We are very sad to hear the news about the operators of Cast. At present it is business as usual."

Cast remains open at the moment and the head of operations at Nottingham Leisure Partnership, John Murphy, is trying to stay positive.

He said the closure of a restaurant may not always mean the end of its presence on the High Street.

"We are seeing places close, but we are also seeing new owners come in and take them over," he said.

Around 20 staff members have lost their jobs, though efforts are being made to find them other work.

But fears for the Bag o' Nails, in Lenton, have been quashed. It has been handed back to the landlord and should open next week under new ownership.

tanya.holden@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk