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Spudulike has suddenly closed its Tunbridge Wells restaurant after the company entered administration.

The jacket potato chain has three branches in Kent - one in the food court at the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, another at the Ashford Designer Outlet and a restaurant in Bluewater's Winter Garden food court that opened in January.

A note has been put up on the counter of the Tunbridge Wells restaurant which reads: "Spudulike is closed. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

It is currently unclear whether the Ashford and Bluewater branches have also shut and whether any will be reopening or permanently closing.

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The company filed for administration on August 1.

An email sent to staff by Spudulike head office - seen by our sister site Plymouth Live - says the group has been "under financial pressure" in recent years.

It adds the group's management team "have been exploring various options to try and preserve all, or part, of the business".

'A shut down across all locations'

It continues: "Following an unsuccessful attempt to agree a Creditors’ Voluntary Arrangement, this has involved seeking a purchaser for certain profitable locations operated by the business, including your site.

"Unfortunately, we have been unable to conclude for a sale of the business before circumstances have required action to be taken to safeguard the assets of the Companies operating under the Spudulike Group from creditor action.

"In order to safeguard the position, the Neil Bennett and Alex Cadwallader of Leonard Curtis were appointed Joint Administrators of the Companies yesterday evening.

"We are this morning effecting a shut down across all locations operated by the Group. This will involve the redundancy of all staff with effect from this morning.

"I attach a draft letter from the Joint Administrators’ instructed agents, Evolve IS, who have been engaged to assist employees in preparing and submitting their claims for any arrears of wages, statutory notice entitlement and redundancy pay to the Redundancy Payments Service.

"The letter provides relevant information concerning your entitlements and the process employees will need to follow in this regard.

"If you have any queries please contact Evolve IS who will be able to answer any employee queries."

A letter to employees from the administrators, Evolve IS, confirms the company is unable to pay employees after Spudulike entered administration.

It says: "I understand you were an employee of the company and this letter is written confirmation that your employment is terminated as at today's date by reason of redunancy.

"[...] Due to the company's current financial position it is not able to make payments to you for monies due such as arrears of pay, holiday pay, redundancy pay and compensatory notice pay."

Spudulike opened its first restaurant in Edinburgh in 1974 and had 50 outlets across the UK at its peak in 2001.