Bedford cafe 'adapts' to reopen after arson destroyed kitchen
The fire started in a bin and spread to the kitchen, which was "100% damaged", the fire service added.It caused "a serious impact on our production areas, mainly due to toxic smoke damage that has compromised all of our stainless steel appliances and surfaces", Mr Healey said. The area has been "completely stripped back to the bones to allow for a commercial deep clean, ahead of repairs and re-fitting". "The damage would shock anyone because from the front, it all looks fine," he added. It reopened in time for the town's Kite and Motoring Festival that took place on 21 and 22 June, but Mr Healey said a reduced menu impacted sales.
Mr Healey said: "We have managed to improvise a decent menu, and a pop-up kitchen using event equipment stored off location, the team have adapted with passion and a desire to put everything right again. "We will be back on track ASAP."Insurance companies for Bedford Borough Council, which owns the building, and the cafe are now dealing with the claim. He said his step-father, Adrian Allen, "dropped tools on another personal project to jump in and get the cafe back on course, without this, we would be facing a much longer road to recovery". The support from customers had been "simply fantastic" with hundreds of supportive comments on its social media pages, he added.The fire occurred after the business recently spent £6,000 on "game-changing" flood defences due to its position near a lake.Bedfordshire Police has been approached for comment.
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