A popular Cheltenham restaurant has decided to close its doors after 21 years.

Flynn's Bar and Brasserie was one of the top-rated eateries in the town, scoring four-and-a-half stars on Tripadvisor to put it in the top 10 per cent of the town's restaurants.

Based in the Courtyard on Montpellier Street in the trendy Montpellier district it had a loyal customer base but made the shock decision to close after deciding not to renew their lease.

In a notice to customers on social media, owner Kelly Jones thanked staff and customers for their support over the past two decades.

The notice said: "We have made the very difficult decision not to renew our lease and so with immediate effect we are closing our doors.

"As you can imagine it is an extremely emotional time. It has been my absolute privilege to work with the most incredible and loyal staff over the last 21 years.

"We have been so fortunate to get to know and look after our wonderful customers who will all be terribly missed and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your custom over the years."