Italian restaurant closes due to Covid impact

AN ASK Italian restaurant in Warwick has closed permanently with the parent company expressing “deep sadness” at saying farewell to the town.

The restaurant has shut its doors due to the “profound impact” of the Covid-19 epidemic on the casual dining sector. A ‘to let’ sign has been placed on the fascia by Savills Estate Agents.

The Azzurri Group, which also owns Zizzi restaurants and Coco di Maria food-to-go outlets, announced in June that it would be closing 75 branches nationally, with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs.

The business was bought out of administration in June by investment management firm

Towerbrook Capital Partners, saving around 225 sites.

But the branch in High Street is among those that will not be reopening following the temporary closure as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. A Zizzi restaurant in Kenilworth closed in August.

The chain said: “The Covid-19 crisis has had a profound impact on the casual dining sector, bringing many businesses like ours to a standstill.

“Despite being a successful operator, we have had to make some incredibly difficult decisions including the permanent closure of a number of sites.

“It is with deep sadness that we confirm Warwick to be amongst these closures and that we have had to say goodbye to a team of greatly valued employees and their much-loved customers.

“As things stand it was not viable to remain in our existing site but we do hope that one day we will return to the town.”

The unit lies empty as another restaurant on the road, Tasca Dali, warns that the Government’s latest Covid-19 restrictions, including a 10pm curfew, may spell the end of its business.

Owner Alex Clayton described the measures announced on Tuesday (September 22) as a “kick in the teeth for the restaurant and pub sectors ”that would take the award-winning venue close to the wire.