Popular Vietnamese restaurant Bistro Saigon Ilkley closing down after 16 years

Bistro Saigon, owned and run by Loc Bui and Paula Cooper, announced the news with a "heavy heart" on their Facebook page.

Head chef Loc was born and raised in Saigon, the old capital of Vietnam, before settling in England - bringing his family recipes with him.

The restaurant, in Railway Road, offered an "authentic Vietnamese experience in a charming Ilkley eatery with first class customer service by our knowledgeable and gracious staff members", according to its website, adding that it was "the place to go for Pho and other Vietnamese favourites within the Leeds area."

The Bistro Saigon team posted to Facebook: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Bistro Saigon. 2020 was a challenging year for us all! It was also a year of reflection for us and allowed us to step back and reassess our work life balance. With all this in mind and the current restrictions not easing anytime soon we have decided to close.

"We were hoping we could leave with a special celebratory meal, however sadly that isn’t to be. This is not goodbye but farewell for now."

Loc has started a new cookery school, Loc's Taste of Vietnam - which is currently running online, so more people can learn how to make the food of his homeland.

The post continued: "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support over the last 16 years!

"This has not been an easy decision to make and it has been a real pleasure to bring a taste of Vietnam to Ilkley and the surrounding community.

"We have made some lovely friends and acquaintances over the many years and will miss everyone.

"Stay safe, don’t be strangers and let our paths cross again soon."