A FAMILY business that has spent three decades serving the people of Prescot and surrounding areas will shut its doors for the final time this weekend.
Following in the footsteps of their parents who ran Chinese restaurants in Liverpool city centre, brothers Dave and George Lee launched The Beijing Restaurant on Eccleston Street, Prescot, back in 1993.
Attracting customers from Prescot, St Helens, and across Merseyside, the business' selection of fresh Chinese and Cantonese meals have been a hit with countless customers over the decades.
However, despite the business' popularity, the Lee family announced "with great sadness" that the restaurant would close for good on Sunday, June 4.
READ > Store front up in St Helens for let after sweet shop closes
Explaining the decision to close the business, Dave said: "We have been here for 30 years now so it feels like the right time to call it time.
"It's been really hard in the hospitality sector to attract enough workers to keep the restaurant going, and with the price of electricity and food going up, it's all added up."
Following the announcement of Beijing's closure, the business has been inundated with messages from customers who are gutted to see their favourite Chinese restaurant go.
Many people have also come into the restaurant to enjoy one final meal before it closes, and others have brought in cards to thank the staff for their service and congratulate the Lee brothers on their retirement.
Dave added: "We didn't expect such a response to the announcement to be honest. We thought we would tell people we are closing and that would be it.
"Some of our customers have been coming in for so long that they are more like friends, and it feels like we have had 30 years' worth of customers coming in over the last three weeks.
"It's been emotional and we have been overwhelmed by it all really. We have always tried our best to give customers the best food and service, so we're happy to see people coming in and wishing us well.
"It's been really busy since we announced the closure but after this weekend, it's time for a big long rest."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here