A WOKINGHAM business owner is stepping in to save a town centre restaurant from permanent closure.
Emilio Sanchez, owner of Spanish tapas bar Sanpa, took action to save The Courtyard after reading about its closure in a Wokingham.Today article.
Mr Sanchez said: “When I heard how much the hospitality sector was suffering in the aftermath of the coronavirus, I had to do something to help.
“I know how much the Town Council is concerned about local businesses, so submitted an application to take over the restaurant.
“The Courtyard is a landmark of our town and extremely valued, so it would be sad to see it disappear.”
Since submitting his application to the council, the businessman has purchased The Courtyard’s assets and hopes to renovate the furniture if his proposals are approved.
Despite owning his own town centre restaurant, he wants to maintain The Courtyard in its current form.
“Should my application be successful, I wouldn’t want to change the name or values of the venue,” added Mr Sanchez.
“It’s such an important part of the community and there are chefs and staff who have lost their jobs due to the closure, so I’d be keen to get them back.
“It’s important that local business leaders pull together to keep the heart of the town beating.”
The Courtyard went into voluntary liquidation mid-July, the same time that Oscars Coffee announced it was for sale.
At the time, Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, leader of the town councils said she was open to a variety of uses for the restaurant building.
She told Wokingham.Today: “We’ve got some ideas for the space if there is no realistic business option.
“We own the Town Hall and don’t have outstanding debts, so we can afford to take the hit.
“We may decide to open it as a community space for a while, until the market picks back up again.
But this may not happen if Mr Sanchez’s application is successful.
Instead, The Courtyard and its staff may return to feeding and watering the people of Wokingham.
