A popular garden centre has revealed plans to open its new restaurant after it suffered a devastating blaze.

Alton Garden Centre, located just off the A127, in Wickford was hit by a huge fire on the night of December 7 last year which saw the first floor of the two-storey centre completely alight as at least nine fire crews attended.

It took firefighters more than two hours to put the blaze out.

Managing director Derek Bunker, who started the business 52 years ago, confirmed at the time that the restaurant would not be open for "some time". Photos from the scene appeared to show the fire ripped through a wall in the restaurant and cause lots of smoke damage.

Now, the garden centre has announced a grand re-opening of its new restaurant area will be taking place on November 1.

For this to happen, the restaurant will be shut for more than two weeks, from Friday October 13.

A spokesman for Alton Garden Centre said on its Facebook page: "In the meantime, you can still enjoy a cuppa of tea and a cheeky cake, so plan your visit.

"We want to say a big thank you for your patience and understanding!"

Following the incident, the garden centre re-opened quickly after it was made safe, while the restaurant was re-opened in late January with a "limited menu".

 

The fire investigation on December 8 found that the fire started accidentally.