A popular Cricklade restaurant is set to close just weeks after owners opened a second eatery elsewhere in the county. 

Tipi Tapa opened at the Vale Hotel last year but has been offering up Mediterranean food since 2015 - initially through a takeaway service.

Last month a Tipi Tapa restaurant opened in Malborough but it has now been announced that the Cricklade venue is to shut its doors. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: The new restaurant in MarlboroughThe new restaurant in Marlborough

A statement on the restaurant's Facebook page said: "As part of the hospitality industry, we have been impacted by the shortage of skilled resource nationwide. 

"Also changes in the Government rules on employing from overseas, has made the challenge even greater. 

"Sadly we are faced with no other option but to close our restaurant. 

"This has been a very hard decision, as we know we have some fantastic friends and customers that have loyally supported us there. 

"We will be leaving the Vale Hotel in the very near future. 

"We are assessing the viability of alternative locations in the locality, as well as potentially reverting back to our previous excellent takeaway/delivery service that so many of you have supported and enjoyed. 

"We are in active dialogue regarding potential locations to enable us to run this service.

"We thank all of our friends and customers old and new for the love and support you have consistently shown us. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our stunning new venue in Marlborough."

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Opening hours in Cricklade had already been restricted to Friday and Saturday evenings only, with it being shut entirely one weekend at the start of the month due to staff shortages. 

Owners say they have two chefs ready to start work in Marlborough when legally permitted to do so. In the meantime they have restricted opening hours at their new restaurant to 12pm-3pm and 5pm to close Wednesday-Saturday.

A number of diners reacted to the news with disappointment. 

One said: "Such a shame you won't be in Cricklade anymore, we loved going to Tipi Tapa."

"What a shame I loved coming into Cricklade for it," said another.