The award-winning Le Jardin cafe, adjacent to The Knowes car park, was run by Colin and Lynne Farries up until spring of this year.

TheSouthern reported that the Farries were having to give up the tenancy of the popular eating establishment because the landlord was imposing a substantial rent increase.

The business was then taken over in June by John Robertson, but he says local people are now staying away from his cafe as they believe – albeit wrongly – that he is the legal owner of the property and wanted to force out the Farries.

Mr Robertson says he and his nine-strong staff are now worried that when the bulk of the tourists leave, there will be a much-reduced trade because of the so-called boycott.

“I regret that this story initiated a very strong rumour throughout the Borders that I am the property owner and that I increased the rent substantially to force the tenants into giving up the tenancy to enable me to takeover their prosperous business. I now find that Le Jardin is being boycotted by local customers due to my ‘unfair’ treatment of the previous tenants,” Mr Robertson told TheSouthern this week.

“The property is not owned by me, but is owned and managed by a pension fund called Winterthur Life SIPP with whom I have no connection or interest, directly or indirectly.

“Indeed it took me three months to secure a tenancy agreement with them at a commercial rent, assessed by a commercial property surveyor, which is in excess of what the previous tenants were required to pay.”

Mr Robertson says that, on hearing this widespread rumour and the subsequent boycott, his staff are obviously concerned about their continuing employment after the end of the tourist season when Le Jardin depends on local trade.

“I was planning an autumn advertising campaign but it would be pointless advertising locally when we are being boycotted,” he added.

And Mr Robertson has pointed out that while the previous tenants’ rent was due to be increased by £1,500 per annum, the Scottish Government’s assistance to small businesses scheme would have provided an 80 per cent discount on its 2008/09 business rate, equivalent to an annual saving of £1,668. This discount is also to be increased to 100 per cent in 2009/10.

When contacted by TheSouthern, Kelso provost Margaret Riddell said she was “astonished” to hear of the boycott claims.

“I personally have not been in Le Jardin yet since the new owner took over, but all the reports I hear are that it is every bit as good as it was under the previous owners,” she said.

“As long as the products are as good and the prices have not been put up by a large amount, Kelso folk will still go there.

“Everyone says it is still excellent and that the staff are very polite and efficient.

“I certainly wouldn’t have any qualms about going in and I don’t think other Kelso folk will have either.”