Halesowen restaurant re-opens after blaze
An Indian restaurant devastated in a blaze has re-opened its doors to diners, almost seven months after the fire that bosses said had cost more than £80,000 in business.
Bangla Lounge in Halesowen welcomed back customers again this week following a £210,000 refit at the High Street premises.
The building was gutted when fire ripped through the restaurant, up the first floor and into the roof. Around 25 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze on April 18 which was caused by an electrical fault.
Today, owner Abdul Bari spoke of his delight at the restaurant re-opening and thanked the community for their support in getting the business back off the ground.
After the fire, the 30-year-old received more than 200 letters of sympathy.
He said: "I want to thank the emergency services for their work and the public who have shown their support to me."
The restaurant caters for up to 120 people and now features private function rooms for up to 40 people on the first floor. The first level had been previously used for storage.
On Tuesday, Chairman of Halesowen Chamber of Trade, Steve Fitzpatrick, officially re-opened the restaurant. About 160 people attended the event.
No-one was at the restaurant at the time of the fire. Mr Bari was alerted to it by a shopkeeper nearby.
The restaurant, which now has 14 staff, was opened 11 years ago. Mr Bari took over eight years ago.
