Magpie owners promise to return better than ever after double fire

Fire crews remained at the Magpie Cafe in Whitby all of Tuesday, as they investigate the cause of two fires at the popular Fish and Chip restaurant in the last two days. The building has remained closed while investigations are underway. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Investigations were continuing yesterday to determine the cause of the two blazes at the restaurant, famed for its fish and chip dinners, over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The first fire started at 10.15pm on Sunday, before the second blaze broke out the following day at about 3.30pm. No one was hurt in either of the blazes, but the restaurant is expected to remain closed for several weeks at what is the start of the main tourism season.

A message which was posted yesterday on the Magpie Cafe’s official Twitter feed thanked people for their support in the wake of the fires.

The message added: “We’ll all continue to work together to come back stronger than ever before to reopen as soon as we can.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed yesterday that investigations were continuing at the premises on Pier Road to establish what caused the two fires.

The Magpie Cafe, which opened 80 years ago in the historic North Yorkshire port, has received acclaim from some of the nation’s leading restaurant critics, including from the late AA Gill.

The Sunday Times restaurant critic dined at the Magpie Cafe just before his death in December last year after being diagnosed with cancer.

In his review, Mr Gill said: “This is, all things considered, without pretension but with utter self-confidence, still the best fish and chips in the world.”