Another long-standing restaurant is shutting its doors at a shopping stretch just outside of St Albans city centre.

Indian restaurant Spice Hut, which has been serving hungry patrons at The Quadrant for 24 years, closed on Saturday.

The restaurant’s philosophy was to offer the finest quality food and service, using natural, fresh ingredients sourced locally.

However, running the business had become too expensive for manager Nizam Shikdar to continue.

Nizam, who was known simply as Joe to customers, said: “I would like to thank all of our customers who have supported us over the years - a big thanks to them because without them, we wouldn’t have been here for such a long time and they are going to be missed.

“We have been here for such a long time, but what can we do if we can’t survive?”

He said that if he decides to open another restaurant he will let his patrons know.

This follows the closure of two other well-loved businesses - Chinese takeaway Po Che and Artisan Bakery.

At the end of July the owners of Po Che announced over Facebook “with a heavy heart” they were taking a “well-earned and over-due” retirement.

No reason was given for the closure of the bakery, which used to be called Ushers.

Both of those businesses had been operating from The Quadrant for more than three decades,

A director of The Quadrant, Sally Jimminson, stressed the closures do not reflect the vibrancy of the precinct.

She owns Mosaic Hair Studio on the parade: “This is a fabulous shopping area and there are great opportunities for more businesses to come in, like M&S, which just moved in.

“A couple of units have changed hands due to natural causes - they haven’t gone out of business,they have just naturally changed hands.”

She teased that an Italian eatery from St Albans city centre could be in the pipeline to take over Spice Hut’s premises.

The parade is a lively hub of restaurants and takeaways, including The Ridgeway Fish Bar, KFC, cafe Molen’s, and relative newcomer The Kebab Shop.

Offerings include convenience store McColl’s, Runners World, Marshalswick Carpets, and Hallmark cards and gifts.