Diners f lee as Nick Nairn’s restaurant is gutted by f ire after deep fat fryer explodes
A RESTAURANT that was opened just last year by celebrity chef Nick Nairn was engulfed in flames last night.
Teams of firefighters raced to Nick’s in Bridge of Allan, outside Stirling, just after 8pm.
Nairn said the fire began in the kitchen of the restaurant in the town’s Henderson Street before spreading to the rest of the venue, which was busy with Saturday-night diners.
The shocked chef last night said the inferno was caused by an exploding deep-fat fryer.
He said: ‘A deep-fat fryer started bubbling over in the kitchen, while the restaurant was very busy. We unplugged it but it burst into flames so we threw a fire blanket over it, which didn’t work.
‘We then used the two kitchen CO2 canisters but when that failed, the fryer just exploded.
‘An off-duty police officer was in the restaurant and managed to get everyone out in the space of 90 seconds, ensuring everyone was safe.’
Nairn described the sight of his burning restaurant as ‘horrendous’. He added: ‘After being flooded this year and the terrible time we have faced with Covid-19 restrictions, this was truly the last thing we needed.’ But he vowed: ‘We will come back from this, stronger than ever.
‘The main thing is everyone is safe.’
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue
Service (SFRS) confirmed that a major emergency operation was under way, involving dozens of firefighters from nearby Dunblane and Tillicoultry. It deployed seven fire engines and a command support unit after receiving 999 calls just after 8pm.
Images from the scene showed flames leaping from two windows at the rear of the property and thick black smoke billowing over adjoining rooftops. There were no reports of serious casualties though it is understood two people had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The SFRS spokesman said: ‘I can confirm we have received calls at 8.17pm on Saturday, August 28, to reports of a building on fire.
‘We are in attendance and it is an ongoing incident.’
Nick’s was only unveiled in Feblifted, ruary last year, just weeks before the country was locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nairn, 62, described having to close it as ‘probably the worst time I’ve had in my entire career in 36 years of hospitality’.
With Covid-19 restrictions mostly the restaurant was just beginning to establish its reputation when the blaze hit last night.
It can accommodate 40 diners inside and a number more at outside tables.
Earlier this month, the Stirlingborn chef broadcast a Facebook appeal for people to come and work in the restaurant, citing perks such as a 30 per cent staff discount and huge tips.
The restaurant website states: ‘Nick’s is an independent familyrun restaurant in the heart of Bridge of Allan. Our menu is small and perfectly-formed, changing weekly to reflect the best produce available to us.
‘We look forward to welcoming you – Julia and Nick Nairn.’
‘Probably the worst time I’ve had in my career’