The company behind an iconic Southampton restaurant has gone into liquidation owing thousands of pounds to creditors.

Joytun Bari Limited run by director Kuti Miah - the owner of Kuti's Brasserie where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak once waited tables - has voluntarily gone into administration.

Mr Miah told the Daily Echo the restaurant he owns at the Grade II-listed Royal Pier gatehouse will be unaffected.

The company owes more than £840,000 to creditors, Companies House filings show.

The Gazette lists the company as trading as Kuti's Brasserie. Mr Miah said this was a mistake on The Gazette and is due to be changed.

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Filings show Joytun Bari Ltd owes £338,214.04 to HMRCs, as well as more than £270,000 to Mr Miah himself, £40,000 to Southampton City Council and £40,000 to Barclays Bank.

Imran Brothers Ltd of Poole, Dorset, is owed £46,000 while Khosla Wines of Hayes is owed £34,000.

Asiatic Limited of Barking in Essex is due £20,000, Euro Foods in South Wales £34,600 and Gandhi Oriental Foods of Barking is owed £13,000.

Mr Miah told the Daily Echo that he "loves his customers like family" and said Southampton is his home.

"It's not easy to survive these things," Mr Miah said when asked about the state of trade.

"I have been surviving for generations.

"The restaurant will remain open, people can still come and eat with us.

"I have worked hard for 43 years, and now we are in a global crisis." 

He added that the cost of living crisis is "very difficult".

He said: "These are very, very difficult times, but I remain a positive person."

Liquidators were appointed on December 13.

A special resolution was made that the company be wound up voluntarily.

The restaurant has scooped a number of national awards, including being named Best Spice Restaurant in the British Curry Awards.

The eatery is also the former workplace of Mr Sunak, who Mr Miah has known since he was a baby. 

As previously reported, Mr Miah and Mr Sunak's father were good friends and the Prime Minister would work shifts "just for fun".

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