CUSTOMERS have been left out of pocket after a restaurant suddenly closed – less than eight months after opening its doors.

Seafood and grill restaurant Beluga, in Crown Road, Billericay, was unveiled in September by celebrity chef Dez Harkness and his business partner Greg Essex, uncle of former Towie star Joey Essex.

Tony Simmons, 38, of Prower Close, Billericay, was so impressed with his meal there at the end of last year that he decided to treat his parents, who are both in their sixties, toa£75 voucher for Beluga as part of their Christmas present.

He ran into problems when he tried to book them a table last week and discovered the phone line had been disconnected and the restaurant was locked up permanently.

Beluga shut without warning at the end of April due to a “leasing issue”.

Mr Simmons said: “It was only when I started reading comments online from people gossiping that it had shut that it started to make sense. I was absolutely shocked, appalled and disappointed. How was I going to break the news to my parents?

“I felt gutted that a restaurant of that calibre could just close its doors and switch off the phone line without any consideration for the people, like me, who had already spent money on gift vouchers, who now have absolutely nothing to show for it. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

Mr Harkness was previously head chef for an entertainment company, where he cooked for leading figures in the entertainment industry, including the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Shirley Bassey, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.

He said he was “very upset” by the sudden closure of his latest business, but the situation was out of his control.

Mr Harkness claims he and Mr Essex were told by the landlord of the building to get out at very short notice due to problems with the lease.

He said: “We will be putting something on our website or Facebook page soon, with details of how people can contact me. I will make sure they get their money back.”