BUDDHIST monks were some of the guests at the Thai Barn on Sunday to celebrate the restaurant's eighth birthday.

Owner Saisunee Pettitt, 54, invited the three monks from Birmingham to bless the restaurant, in Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon, as part of Thai tradition. She said: "We had the restaurant blessed when it opened and for the five year anniversary. We were going to wait until the 10th year but the staff couldn't wait to have another good celebration.

"I originally invited five monks but May 7 was a popular day because of the stage the moon was in. "The actual anniversary is on May 24 but the moon is waning that night, which isn't so good for blessings. "It is a Thai tradition to have the monks bless with water. The water is put in a container and blessed and sprinkled on the customers. The monks then wish them good luck.

"They also blessed the restaurant. We have had a good eight years and the monks wished us another good year to come." Customers were also invited to the celebrations including some who visit the restaurant every Sunday.

"The celebration was also a chance to say thank you for our staff who work so hard. We also had entertainment with Thai classical dancing," said Mrs Pettitt. "The nearest Buddhist temple is far away from us so we don't have the opportunity to go much, so while the monks came to bless they also spent some time teaching.

"They warned us about gambling and although we live in England we must follow the Thai culture." Mrs Pettitt decided to open the restaurant eight years ago because she was unimpressed by other Thai restaurants she had eaten in.

"I went to a few restaurants and I felt that I could do better. Thai food is about freshness and quality but some restaurants use frozen food and don't have a good atmosphere," she said. "All our food is authentic and we have it imported from Thailand.

"When we opened we were popular straight away and people in the town complimented us and said we'd put Bradford on Avon on the map. Mrs Pettitt originally trained as a nurse in Thailand and moved to Britain to work in Gloucestershire before meeting her husband Alan and moving to Wiltshire.

The couple now run two restaurants in Bradford, The Thai Barn and Rialto, an Italian restaurant in nearby St Margaret's Street.

THAI BARN FACT FILE:

  • The Thai Barn is in Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon
  • Parking is available in Bridge Street car park
  • Opening hours: lunchtime Wednesday-Saturday 12 noon-2.30pm, evenings Tuesday-Sunday 6-11pm
  • Contact: (01225) 866443