Bedford cafe 'adapts' to reopen after arson destroyed kitchen
Staff at a riverside cafe which was damaged after an arson attack had to "adapt and improvise" to get the business up and running again. Thomas Healey, from The Longholme, on Bedford's Embankment, said its food production areas were left full of "toxic smoke" after the fire in the early hours of Wednesday 18 June.All food and consumables had to be thrown away, but by Saturday, it was serving again with generator power, a coffee trailer and a pop-up kitchen.Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue confirmed its crews were called to the scene and the "cause of the fire was deliberate".
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.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Just what is Meghan trying to hide? After months of fruitless investigation, CAROLINE GRAHAM discovers a shocking new theory on what's REALLY behind the Duchess's jam brand
It is unquestionably the Duchess of Sussex 's most famous product, and the one she lovingly refers to on her As Ever website as 'where it all began'. Yet, three months on from the public launch of her in-demand raspberry spread, mystery still surrounds the provenance of the £6.50-a-jar product.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Anti-drone lasers will be fitted to military vehicles to protect the UK from swarm attacks by terror groups or hostile nations
Laser weapons capable of shooting down drones will be fitted to military vehicles to help protect the UK from swarm attacks by terror groups or hostile nations, The Mail On Sunday can reveal. Defence experts have said the laser-armed vehicles could guard airfields, sensitive locations such as GCHQ and other areas of critical national infrastructure. Tanks, armoured personnel carriers and reconnaissance vehicles will be equipped with the lasers, which are designed to blast drones out of the sky from more than half a mile. Details of the laser plans emerged as Britain begins ramping up its defence spending to counter threats from Russia and China. After criticism from US President Donald Trump, the UK aims to spend 4.1 per cent of its GDP on defence by 2027, and 5 per cent by 2035. At a Nato summit last week, Sir Keir Starmer said increased defence spending was vital to counter threats at home and abroad. The lasers, known as direct energy weapons, fire an intense beam of infrared light, causing a target to heat up and explode. They will be equipped with sensors capable of tracking drones to ensure the weapon remains locked-on to its target. Tanks, armoured personnel carriers and reconnaissance vehicles will be equipped with the lasers, which are designed to blast drones out of the sky from more than half a mile Unlike conventional weapons, they strike at the speed of light and are virtually limitless in terms of ammunition. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence announced that it would invest £1 billion in lasers. Details of the laser plan have been revealed by the MoD in a 'preliminary market engagement notice' to defence companies. The document, seen by The Mail on Sunday, said the MoD was seeking a 'laser direct energy weapon to destroy small unmanned air systems (drones) at ranges of 1km-plus'. It adds that 'availability to deliver within 12 months ideally' will be required. Defence firms will have to demonstrate the capability of their systems as they bid for the £20 million contract. Earlier this month, the MoD also revealed plans to develop a fleet of drones capable of being launched from Transit vans. Col Philip Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer, said the lasers were vital for national security and 'can't come quickly enough'. The MoD said the laser weapons will be 'created this decade', adding: 'Following the successful trial of a high-energy laser mounted to a Wolfhound armoured vehicle, we are engaging the market to help inform decisions on procurement.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic implores locals to allow the building of 39 new courts which he says will make the All England Club 'truly outstanding'
Novak Djokovic will surely be facing some tricky opponents over the coming days – but he may find there are none tougher than the SW19 locals. The seven-time champion yesterday encouraged those living close to the All England Club to allow plans for Wimbledon to build 39 new courts on the famous site. Djokovic, 38, was reacting to objections by residents which have held up the expansion project – which would include a third showcourt – for years. The plans were rejected on the grounds the mixture of public and private courts, plus a 23-acre public park, would affect the 'openness' of a golf course owned by the club which has been closed to the public for a century. Djokovic said Wimbledon is a 'special place', but delivering on their expansion will make it 'truly outstanding'. He told The Mail on Sunday: 'Having the new courts and all the beautiful new parkland, on what was a golf course, is a real win for everyone in my opinion. I hope they can deliver it soon.' While Angela Rayner and Wimbledon might not seem the most natural bedfellows, the Housing Secretary's move to relax planning rules is the club's best hope of breaking the impasse. She has vowed to speed up the planning process to boost developments across the UK. Backing Djokovic's call, four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman said: 'All other Grand Slams hold their qualifying events on their main site, which creates a sense of anticipation for players – an important part of the lead up to the main tournament that we'd like to also harness at Wimbledon. 'Qualifying is currently held on a leased site at Roehampton, which means we cannot invest in the long-term improvements that we need to provide a world- leading environment for those playing in qualifying.' He added: 'This project will allow us to keep pace with the other Grand Slams and provide the best possible experience for players and spectators from around the world.' A backer of the proposals said they would ' deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations for London since 2012', adding: 'They are crucial to ensuring Wimbledon remains at the pinnacle of tennis... and a global attraction for both London and the UK.'
