A Faversham restaurant has lost its coveted Michelin star status - 20 years after it first held it.

Read's restaurant, in Canterbury Road, held the gourmet food award for two decades without a break - but has lost it in the latest Michelin Guide, out today.

The news came as a disappointment to owner and head chef David Pitchford, who has co-owned the restaurant alongside wife Rona for 36 years.

He said: “It is very disappointing. We have kept the star for 20 years and this would have been our 21st consecutive year.

“We do not know why we lost it and the reasons are not explained to us.”

But David said he is still proud of the restaurant’s achievements over the last 20 years.

He added: “At the same time we have held it for 20 years and I am not aware of anybody that has had that. We want to celebrate that.

“This is our 36th year and it is really fantastic to have had it for so long but at the same time wev are sad it has come to an end.

“We are proud of our achievement. We were the first one to hold it in Kent for a long time.”

But gaining a Michelin star in the 2013 list is Thackeray's in Tunbridge Wells.

Set in a 17th century building, in the nineteenth century it was famous as the home to English novelist, William Makepeace Thackeray.

The restaurant is now run by TV chef Richard Phillips.

Holding on to their stars are the West House in Biddenden, Apicius in Cranbrook and the Sportsman in Seasalter.