Kentish Express Ashford & District
Airport cafe cleared for take-off after fire drama
It was a party atmosphere at a popular cafe on Saturday which opened its doors again after fire ripped through the kitchen last month.
Music and entertainment was laid on for returning customers to the Airport Cafe on Ashford Road in Sellindge.
Owners Pat and Julie Breen, f rom Willesborough, have worked tirelessly since the blaze on September 7 to get the cafe back in business.
Along with their staff, the whole place had to be stripped back and redecorated after the smoke damage turned the kitchen and much of the dining room black.
The couple said they were delighted to get open again so quickly after fearing it could be months rather than weeks hailing Saturday’s opening as the cafe “rising like a phoenix from the ashes”.
Brand new equipment has
Airport Cafe re-opens after fire and right; hungry customers waiting for their food been brought in and Mr Breen said they had to “more or less rebuild the place”.
An investigation is still ongoing by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) over its response time to attending the fire.
Mr Breen was angry when fire crews took more than 30 minutes to reach them which KFRS said was because Ashford crews were at the scene of a crash-landed Spitfire in Woodchurch.
He said this had caused thou- sands of pounds in additional damage than if they had sent another crew, which he suggested they did from Folkestone.
He said after this suggestion, crews arrived within 10 minutes and entered the building.