Second blaze ravages The Magpie
Seaside town comes to a standstill as thousands watch firefighters try to save famous fish and chip cafe
There were flames billowing out of the roof. Ceri Oakes , freelance photographer.
IT HAS become a culinary institution on the Yorkshire coast since it opened 80 years ago in the port of Whitby.
But now The Magpie Cafe, which has served up its famous fish and chip meals to diners since it opened in the North Yorkshire town, has been forced to close for a lengthy period at the start of the main tourism season after the building was ravaged by two fires within 24 hours over the bank holiday weekend.
The roof of the popular cafe on Pier Road was almost completely destroyed in a blaze yesterday afternoon.
A North Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said fire crews were called to a blaze in the roof space at the Magpie at 10.15pm on Sunday.
The spokesman said last night: “The incident was dealt with using eight fire engines from the surrounding area which included a high-reach aerial ladder platform from Scarborough fire station and a crew from Middlesbrough. All fire engines left the scene at 04.39hrs and a revisit was carried out by an operational crew at 08.27hrs.
“Following this incident North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service Control Room received calls at 15.28hrs on Monday, May 1 to a fire at the same property; Magpie fish and chip shop 14-15 Pier Road, Whitby.
“In total six fire engines attended the incident which included a high-reach aerial ladder platform and three officers.
“Crews deployed breathing apparatus and firefighting equipment to extinguish the fire. No people were injured as a result of the fire.
“Fire investigation officers are in attendance and have started a separate investigation into the cause of the second fire. At this time, the cause of both fires is still to be determined.”
Ceri Oakes, a freelance photographer from Whitby, said: “I was covering the fire on Sunday night and then today I was walking past on Pier Road and everyone was stood watching.
“There were flames billowing out of the roof. It was a sunny Bank Holiday Monday and the streets were full of people. The whole town was at a standstill with people just watching because nobody could believe what they were seeing, that it was on fire again.
“The roof was destroyed. A large part of the roof is completely gone. Everyone is absolutely gutted for the people that work there because it’s the start of a busy season for them and it’s going to have a big impact.”
The Magpie Cafe had posted a message on its Facebook page before the second blaze yesterday afternoon. The message read: “Business as usual at a very busy Magpie takeaway.”
Messages of support for the restaurant, which is among Britain’s top fish and chip eateries, flooded in on social media following Sunday night’s blaze. Jayne Taylor said: “Relieved no one injured.”