A chip shop in Keswick which suffered a major blaze the day after reopening post-lockdown is finally back in business again after nearly five months closed.
The Kingfisher on Main Street had shut in March because of UK lockdown and was trading for just 24 hours as restrictions eased in May before fire swept through the popular takeaway and eat-in premises.
Twins Steve and Andy Clark had been looking forward to celebrating their 10th anniversary running the Kingfisher in April — but now things are cooking again after reopening for a second time on Saturday.
Steve said: “We opened the takeaway for the first time after lockdown on Thursday 21st May. It was evenings only and we were just an hour into the service the next day when disaster happened.”
A blaze broke out in the kitchen range and firefighters from Keswick and Cockermouth spent two hours bringing it under control.
The building was evacuated and no staff or customers were injured but the business had to remain closed while investigations by the insurance company were carried out.
Steve said: “The next seven weeks were totally demoralising because we just had to wait. It was nobody’s fault the fire started in a duct below one of the chip frying pans.
“We are used to working 15-hour-days so we didn’t know what to do with our time – in fact we started walking the Wainwrights!”
In mid-July, the cleaners were finally allowed in and the painstaking task of rebuilding the interior began. The twins used local contractors wherever they could.
Steve said: “They all rallied round to get us back up and running – but you can’t buy a cooking range off the peg.
“We had to order it through Mallinsons in Oldham, who had made our last range, and there was a six to eight weeks delivery date.
“All the equipment downstairs had to be replaced as powder was used to put out the fire and local-based Packhorse Steel helped.”
The new range was fitted on Thursday and Friday last week – ready for the grand opening on Saturday.
Steve added: “We are absolutely delighted to be back. It has been so busy with queues down the road at the weekend.
‘We have also taken advantage of the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out deal during the week, which meant the restaurant is also busy.”
