A vegan cafe closed its doors for the final time this week.

Fortify Cafe first opened in Maidstone’s High Street as a vegetarian eatery during the recession in 2009, but according to its owner, it had struggled ever since.

Although this year and last year were the cafe’s busiest years, the hole in funds left from opening and installing catering facilities in the building meant there was no way James Hooper could keep it going.

A crowdfunding campaign was recently launched in hopes of raising £50,000.

"Half of this would allow us to continue the cafe in its current form, the whole amount would enable us to progress and improve the service we give to customers," Mr Hooper said.

According to the cafe’s crowdfunding page, only £2,359 has been raised, just 5% of the target amount.

The cafe previously won TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awards and when Sir Paul McCartney filmed Later....with Jools Holland at the Maidstone Studios in 2013, he sent his staff to pick up a £100 meat-free feast for him and the crew.

Fortify’s last trading day was on Sunday, September 18, and since then fixtures and fittings have been sold off.

Mr Hooper disagreed with suggestions the decision to go completely vegan last year was its downfall.

He said: "I think moving to homemade food and the increased labour costs associated with that were a problem, but going vegan was the best thing we ever did.

"Vegans will travel for good food, and we’re proud to have supplied that."

Currently, there are no plans for the Fortify brand to branch out into farmers’ markets or other events where independent businesses can be seen.

"I think I’ll go into a nine-to-five job for a while, but it probably won’t be long before I’m back doing something with vegan food because I have such a passion for it," Mr Hooper said.

Mr Hooper thanked customers who have become friends, and says he will miss the community the most.

He added: "I’ve met such lovely people through being here. This is the longest time I’ve spent in one area and it’s been like home with so many nice people around."