A RESTAURANT’S claim that it is closing for a week due to ‘Food Festival blockage’ has been disputed by the chief executive of Abergavenny Food Festival.

Kong’s Restaurant, based in the town’s Brewery Yard, has posted a notice in the windows stating that the venue will be closing for a week from September 12 to 18, reopening on Wednesday 19.

The notice states, ‘To our valued customers, Kong’s Restaurant will be closing on the following dates due to Food Festival blockage’, but now Festival boss, Aine Morris, has responded, ‘After consulting with our production team, we can confirm that we have not blocked customer access to Kong’s Restaurant and Takeaway.

‘Any decision taken to close their restaurant for a week is entirely down to them. If they were to remain open, customers collecting takeaways would need to park up and walk a little further down the street than normal to collect their order, as our fencing would prevent parking right outside.

‘I understand that access to Kong’s has been an on-going issue in the years prior to my arrival at the event, and that we have attempted for the last three or four years to arrive at a solution that would be suitable for everybody.

‘It is unfortunate that Kong’s feel the need to close their business entirely, but as discussed with them directly on several occasions, we would be more than happy to work with them to find a solution that is suitable for all.’

A spokesman for Kong’s told the Chronicle, ‘We apologise to our valued customers, but we have decided to close over festival weekend to avoid the problems and inconvenience caused by blockage.’

Normally, Kong’s Restaurant opens from Wednesday to Sunday evenings and on Sunday lunchtimes.

It has been open in Abergavenny since 2011.

Abergavenny Food Festival will be celebrating its 20th year in the town this month and will be expecting up to 30,000 visitors.