Kettering Mexican restaurant says adios as Covid closure proves too much

A popular Mexican restaurant is saying adios to Kettering's town centre after the Covid lockdown proved a financial step too far.

Sonora Mexican Kitchen in Montagu Street is coming up to its first birthday, but it will close its doors for the final time on August 29.

Owner Shaun Sedani, who opened the restaurant after his taco truck was a hit on the town centre streets, said he was gutted to close and has "loved every second of it".

He said: "Out of the year we've been here we've only been able to open for seven months.

"We have invested a lot of money and it's just got to the point where it's just become impossible for us to carry on."

When the restaurant closed because of the pandemic Shaun was part of a group of volunteers to serve up more than 3,000 meals to the town's most vulnerable.

But when they were able to re-open Shaun, who fell in love with Mexican cuisine on holiday, said safety works completed without warning didn't help them.

Parking spaces were removed from the busy street with a barrier blocking pedestrians from crossing the road and at the time Shaun warned it made it look like their side of the street was closed.

And now his restaurant is closing for good. Shaun said: "Alongside Covid the barrier has had a massive impact.

"We have had someone who didn't show up because they couldn't park and we have noticed a big number of people booking a table and then not coming.

"It just made us look like we were already closed."

The restaurant may be closing and Shaun will take a little break, but he promised it's not the end for Sonora.

He added: "The support from our customers has been fantastic.

"This is not the end and we will be back at some point and in some way."

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