A TROUBLED Thai restaurant in east Oxford has been put up for sale just weeks after it received a dressing down from food hygiene inspectors.

The recently re-opened Jay Fai restaurant in St Clement’s Street is now on the market with Christie and Co seeking £275,000 for the leasehold.

Oxford Mail:

Owner Vichai Karmakharm has said he intends to retire.

However, in August the eatery was given a two-star food hygiene rating after inspectors discovered untrained staff, ‘off-smelling’ fish and out of date meat in the kitchen.

Manager Michael Krmakhi blamed teething problems for many of the issues and insisted that since in the inspection staff had received full training.

He also blamed staff keeping their own lunch in the restaurant fridge for the out-of-date meat.

Jay Fai itself replaced troubled restaurant Thai Orchid which, which received a zero-star food hygiene rating during its final inspection in February.

Jay Fai then opened in May.

Speaking about the decision to sell the restaurant, owner Mr Karmakharm said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed running the business over the years and have made many friends, however I feel the time is right to hand over the reins to a new purchaser and embark on a well-earned retirement.”

The listing states the recently refurbished restaurant, which also has 10 letting bedrooms across the first and second floor, boasts a ‘prominent location’ in a ‘thriving area’ and has ‘built up an enviable reputation with a good local following’.