A CAFE bar in Little Germany has closed its doors after struggling to make a profit.

The Guzelian Cafe Bar, on Church Bank, was launched five years ago by Bradford-based national newspaper photographer Asadour Guzelian, who runs the Guzelian picture agency.

But he has taken the decision to close the eaterie, citing the closure of night-time access to Little Germany through The Broadway shopping centre as one of the reasons.

Mr Guzelian said: “Despite the great reviews we struggled to make a profit.

“There were a number of reasons for this, but the closure of night-time access to Little Germany through the Broadway shopping centre didn’t help.

“It left us cut off from the rest of the city in the evening, with few diners wishing to make the long trip round the perimeter.

“I would urge the powers that be to reinstate the route through the Broadway into the evening so Little Germany and the rest of the city are properly connected.

“This was surely the intention when the Broadway was being planned and built.”

Guzelian Cafe Bar opened with help from a grant from Bradford Council’s Growth Zone economic regeneration scheme.

The money enabled Mr Guzelian to transform the empty ground floor of its Church Bank premises.

He founded the agency back in 1986 and is a leading supplier of news and pictures to national and regional newspapers and magazines, as well as commercial photography.

Over the years, he has worked on a number of high-profile stories.

When the cafe bar first opened, he told the Telegraph & Argus: “We decided we wanted to open a gallery but thought it would be much more appealing for local people if they could sit down and have something to eat and drink at the same time.

“I relocated the agency from Saltaire specifically with this in mind but we’ve had to wait to put the recession behind us and with progress on the Westfield development feel that the time is right to proceed.

“I’m sure exhibitions in the gallery and the cafe bar will appeal to those who work in Little Germany and beyond as well as visitors to the city.”

Si Cunningham, Chair of the Bradford Civic Society, said he was sorry to hear of its closure.

“I do think in some ways that Little Germany feels more connected to the city centre now than it did before Broadway was built, although I appreciate that more can be done to help the night-time economy around there,” he said.

“The Civic Society have previously had very positive discussions with the Broadway management team about encouraging more animation along Well Street, and I understand that the new BID is working hard to make Little Germany even more attractive with things like improved lighting and making more of the unique architecture.

“Longer term, I think the former Royal Mail site at Forster Square is critical when it comes to connecting different parts of the city centre. Any development there should do more to really open up Little Germany and the Cathedral area. In the meantime, it’s up to us as Bradfordians to support our local businesses in places like Little Germany. There are some great places there like the Rooftop Café inside Kala Sangam that are real hidden gems.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We’re sad to see the bar close.

"A reduction in the opening hours for access to the mall was agreed with the Broadway under a conditional planning permission in September 2016 following issues around anti-social behaviour in the shopping centre after hours.”