Brundall cafe set to reopen after fire forced six-month closure
East Hills Cafe is set to re-open, six months after an early morning blaze tore through the eatery. John and Sophie Hodgkinson, with their son William. Photo: John Hodgkinson - Credit: John Hodgkinson
A fire-hit cafe is set to re-open, six months after an early morning blaze tore through the eatery.
It happened on September 13 last year, when fire crews were called to the East Hills Cafe at Brundall Bay Marina just after 6am.
The fire, which is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault in the marina offices below, damaged much of the interior and caused a section of the floor to give way.
But this month it is set to re-open its doors to the public.
Owner Sophie Hodgkinson, who opened the business in early 2015, said: 'The last six months really have been the most difficult time, having only started the business less than two years ago, we were starting to see the trade build - until I was called to say my bistro was on fire early one morning.
'I thought it was over, how could we recover? But thanks to a great team, help from friends and family, and a lot of hard work we are back up and running, with some improvements and refinements to what we had before.'
She added: 'We have managed to keep all of the old team and my head chef Carlos is really looking forward to getting his kitchen warmed up again.'
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When the cafe first opened in April 2015, she wanted to give the community a place to eat, socialise and shop for gifts and clothing.
She had the idea to open the café when on maternity leave with her son William.
And said at the time that being a new mother, she felt Brundall needed somewhere people could meet up.
Now, she is expecting her second baby with husband John, who works as a pilot.
