THE FORMER owner of a restaurant in Bournemouth has hit out over the number of new eateries in the town which he said “destroyed” his business.

Ami Norian owned the Italian restaurant La Strada on Exeter Road for 30 years before it closed at the end of last June.

He said that since the arrival of the BH2 complex last February, the number of new chain restaurants in Bournemouth had affected his business and left him unable to compete.

Mr Norian said: “Bringing in all these big companies just destroyed me.

“I couldn’t afford to match chain restaurants who were offering discounts and two for one deals.

“I used to make everything freshly made.

“Bournemouth council needs to wake up and look after its own.”

He said he may look to open another restaurant elsewhere but not in Bournemouth as he couldn’t afford to stay in the town.

Up to five units for restaurants are proposed along Exeter Road as part of the proposed Winter Gardens scheme.

The scheme is the largest in the town’s history and would see a combined residential, leisure and retail development with restaurants and a new public realm. A new food store is also planned. The plans are being led by the Bournemouth Development Company.