AN Indian restaurant has shut its doors in Hadleigh less than 18 months after opening to residents.

The Wild Ducks Indian Restaurant, on London Road, first opened in January 2023 promising to offer a range of authentic Balti dishes.

The site has a long history as an Indian restaurant with two operating previously on the site but Wild Ducks has closed suddenly this week.

The owner's have not made an announcement on social media but residents have spotted it closed and it is now listed as "permanently closed" on Google.

The restaurant was also one of Hadleigh’s highest rated restaurants on TripAdvisor, with a four-star average review score.

Hadleigh resident Mark Anderson said: “Unfortunately I saw it is another quick passing business, that came and went and never really fought to survive.

“It’s a shame really, with a bit more thought to advertising, any business can flourish in Hadleigh.

“We will have to see what it becomes next.”

The restaurant was previously an Indian restaurant called the Mayflower, and before that was host to the Poona Indian.

Former Hadleigh councillor, Jacqui Thornton, has called the closure “disappointing” and is concerned to see businesses closing in the small town.

She said: “I am incredibly disappointed to hear about the Wild Duck’s closure, there were so many good things to say about it.

“What concerns me is there seems to be a rise in Hadleigh of shops closing.

“There are a concerning number of shops and restaurants in Hadleigh that are winding down, it is really disappointing that another one has been lost, it is upsetting.

“Hadleigh feels like it has become a bit of a hodgepodge around where the Wild Ducks is, there is a lot of places that are becoming flats around that end, it is quite neglected.”

The restaurant encouraged diners to “dive into the menu at Wild Ducks, offering a variety of mouth-watering options, including delightful dishes like duck, seafood and rice.

According to TripAdvisor, customers had praised the restaurant for itse “excellent service”, “fair pricing” and full menu choice "providing something for all palettes".