A RESTAURANT which opened in a converted historic city pub has closed just weeks after opening its doors.

Cantina93 at the Cock & Bottle opened in the Grade II listed building on Barkerend Road, Bradford, in June, but has suddenly closed at the end of last week.

Owners announced the closure with immediate effect" on Twitter, citing "circumstances outside Cantina93's control or influence".

A further message criticised Bradford Council's "flawed strategy of regeneration."

Last night, business owner Aftab Ali, who invested between £80,000 and £120,000 into the venture, said Bradford's City Centre Growth Zone was unfair to entrepreneurs looking to set-up outside of the scheme's boundary.

The £35 million initiative, funded by the council and the Government's Regional Growth Fund, supports new or existing businesses by offering grants, rates rebates and advice. It covers a specified area of the city in an attempt to support its regeneration.

But Mr Ali said his plans had been hindered by the scheme, which was supporting rivals within its boundary while he was outside of it.

"We have become annoyed with the regeneration strategy of the council which has seen them investing in start-up business and creating new competition for us. It's a tough market anyway.

"They are creating competitors for me.

"It's just not competitive to keep going because of the council's strategy. What the council has done is unfair."

But the authority's executive member for education, skills and culture, Councillor Susan Hinchliffe, said the boundary could not be changed.

"Obviously I'm disappointed that the business is closing so soon after opening," she said.

"The City Growth Zone boundary was set several years ago in agreement with Government. Because of this agreement the council cannot change that boundary.

"I can understand why people outside the boundary might feel aggrieved, but sadly it is not within our powers to make any changes to it."

The Cock & Bottle's refurbishment led to objection from CAMRA which feared historical features, such as its snug area, may be lost.

David Boothroyd, the former Bradford Camra chairman, said: "It's a shame that it has closed.

"We would all like to see it as a pub again, if it is viable. We were upset that the features inside were destroyed."

Mr Ali said he does not know what will happen to the building, but he is looking to move the business to Leeds or Manchester.

"It will cost me considerably more to stay in Bradford. It's really gut-wrenching to leave. I'm really angry and upset.

"The City Centre Growth Zone is giving my competitors hundreds of thousands of pounds which is not fair.

"We are on the wrong side of the road and we don't qualify and somebody from the council has not engaged with us.

"We enjoyed Bradford and built up a customer base here."

Mr Ali said he did not approach the local authority to see what help it could offer before he invested in the area, but will be contacting it now.