IT IS the end of an era for a long-standing family restaurant that has been serving customers for generations in the city.

The Asia Indian Restaurant, based in Fisherton Street, closed its doors on Sunday to make way for a new restaurant venture. 

The restaurant was initially started by local businessmen in 1968 as one of the first Indian restaurants in Wiltshire and was taken over by Siraj Ahmed in 1971.

Siraj’s son Farsi Solman, who operates restaurants Anokaa and Grillado, has expressed an interest in taking over the site with a new eatery for Salisbury.

Mr Ahmed and his brother Abedeen have been running the Indian restaurant. The Asia restaurant has seen three generations of the Ahmed family involved in the business. 

Siraj, 85, has been overseeing the restaurant for the last 10 years, and says due to health deterioration and long-standing staffing issues he has taken the sad decision to shut its doors. 

He says the Asia was in a league of it’s own and never feared competition from the chains. 

Siraj said: “It's been a tough decision and a very sad time especially for my children who have grown up here and made Asia what it is. I want to thank everyone for their valued custom over the years and the support from the beginning to the end. I hope we will continue to receive the overwhelming support from our loyal customers for the new venture."