A rent row has erupted between a popular Middlesbrough restaurant and its landlord after the venue was chained shut suddenly last week.

The Oven, which has been based on Linthorpe Road for nearly 10 years, was closed unexpectedly last Wednesday (October 2) when a possession notice was taped to its window.

Landlords Pneuma Group Ltd said it made the “difficult decision to re-enter (the) premises”, claiming the tenant had “not fulfilled their rental obligations for several months”. 

It came after diners reportedly turned up at the restaurant for a booking last week to find the doors had been chained up. 

Pneuma Group said it had a “duty to protect our revenue and ensure the ongoing stability of our operations” when confirming it had taken control of the site, and said that the decision was taken “despite our best efforts to resolve the situation”.

The restaurant - which is owned by Tarek Thoma, who also runs the new Bazaar restaurant at Captain Cook Sqaure - spoke out soon after, saying it was “committed” to fulfilling all bookings for The Oven at Bazaar. 

Now, a spokesperson for The Oven restaurant has slammed the rental issue claims as “untrue” - saying the dispute was over “historic debts from Covid and regarding inflated energy bills”.

A statement alleged that bosses had been “making regular payments” and were now in discussions with solicitors with an intention to “take this further”, describing the situation as “unfair”. 

In response, a Pneuma Group spokesperson has since told The Northern Echo: “We maintain the facts stated in our previous statement and have nothing further to add.”

As previously reported, The Oven thanked customers who had "reached out, commented, and shared kind words" following the closure, which "came as a shock" to the team. 

It also "wholeheartedly" apologised to those with reservations who had been unable to contact the venue initially. 

A new statement from added: “We are committed to fulfilling all our obligations and bookings going forwards including all our Christmas bookings and Christmas Day bookings at Bazaar in Captain Cook Square. 

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“We will also be operating our Sunday lunch menu at Bazaar; same price, same menu. We have worked tirelessly for 10 years to make our restaurant a success.”

A Pneuma Group spokesperson previously said: “This is never a step we take lightly, but it was necessary to safeguard our business and maintain the financial viability that allows us to continue operating, employing our staff and fulfilling our obligations to current tenants.

“We remain committed to finding constructive solutions and working with our tenants wherever possible, but it is also crucial that we take appropriate measures to protect the interests of our business and everyone who depends on it."