AN INFLUENTIAL businessman in Southampton has blamed the city council after he moved one of his restaurants to a new site.

Kuti Miah, owner of countywide brand Kuti’s, believes the council’s decision to create a new food complex at Westquay, on the Esplanade, has hit local restaurants.

His restaurant Kuti’s Brasserie had been a mainstay on Oxford Street after opening in 1993. But it has now closed its doors and moved to the Royal Pier.

It has merged with Gatehouse 1833, which is also owned by Mr Miah, on the pier and now serves an array of foods and drinks.

He told the Daily Echo: “The city council has killed all the business off down in Oxford Street.

“Every business is suffering down there.

“The council didn’t help us by installing that building and many restaurants are closing down there.

“When we first moved there Oxford Street was rocking, but because of the complex at Westquay we can’t compete.”

Despite the issues, Mr Miah says by moving his famous brasserie to the pier he has completed a longstanding dream.

When he first moved to Southampton in 1980, he saw the pier and wanted to set up his own restaurant there.

Now he has been able to revamp the Royal Pier and offer customers an even wider selection of food.

There is now a bar upstairs called The Gatehouse 1833, named after its original name and year it was built.

People can enjoy a wide selection of food but can pop in for a drink, a snack and a relax enjoying what Mr Miah describes as “the most beautiful view in the city.”

While they wait for their meal, foodies can also watch the chefs prepare dishes in the new open kitchen.

“It’s always been my passion to open on the Royal Pier,” Mr Miah said.

“We want to celebrate exactly what the pier is about. We cater for everyone now so people should pop in for a nice drink or meal and see what we have done with the place.

“The people of Southampton have been so supportive of us and we want to continue the historical legacy of this building.”

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: “West Quay south offers a different dining experience in a completely different area of the city when compared to what is offered in Oxford Street. All of the restaurants in the city are operating in a competitive commercial market, however Southampton has a catchment area which draws customers from a wide geography well beyond the city boundaries.”