Keeping business alive will save the spirit and identity of Wakefield

That’s the word from one of Wakefield’s popular restaurants.

Over the past few years Wakefield has become known for the quality of its bars and restaurants and had helped enhance the city’s offering.

Asamnew Asres, who owns Corarima on Cross Street, say his businesses has been hit hard by the restrictions.

On the day the Express went to print the Abyssinian restaurant had just one booking and Asamnew said his place and others needed real support to continue.

He said: “In terms of Wakefield, ourselves and other restaurants, we play a key role in the vibrancy of the city.

“Not just locally, people come from different places, driving an hour or an hour and a half just to have that experience here.

“It is really important for the city – that is what we have seen the last year or so.

“The lockdown has affected us immensely.

“In the first lockdown if we were not given the grant I can tell you for sure we would have closed.”

He said the virus-related costs from his restaurant needed to be cushioned.

And he said there could be a big price to pay for the city if businesses don’t get the help they need to get through and Wakefield is left to become a ghost town.