A CITY centre café has re-opened its doors to customers after being shut for one and a half years following a fire which destroyed its roof. 

Jenkins Café and Restaurant, in St John’s Street, Colchester, has announced its relaunch after 18 months of repair works.

The business has been fully refurbished and Nasuh Kahraman, owner of the café since 2010, is eager to welcome back diners.

He said: “We are back open with a fully refurbished building after all the fire from next door which ruined our business. 

“We are so happy to be back and to see so many of our customers who have waited patiently for 18 months for us. 

“Thanks again for being patient while work was being done.” 

Gazette:

Gazette: Damage - The roof of Jenkins Café Damage - The roof of Jenkins Café (Image: Public)
The café fell victim to a fire back in June 2022 which saw five fire crews rush to the scene shortly before 5am after a passer-by spotted smoke coming out of a commercial building next door. 

Firefighters from Colchester, Wivenhoe, Coggeshall and Chelmsford confirmed the blaze had impacted Jenkins Café and its roof and spread to a neighbouring convenience store. 

Fears were raised over how quickly the structure’s historic wooden beams could ignite. 

Gazette:

Gazette: Scene - Firefighters responding to a fire which impacted Jenkins Café in June 2022 Scene - Firefighters responding to a fire which impacted Jenkins Café in June 2022 (Image: Public)
The inferno followed the destruction of the roof just shy of a year prior in March 2021 as a result of heavy winds. 

Overnight gales had caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage and Essex Police installed a cordon around the premises to keep the public at a safe distance. 

Speaking at the time, Mr Kahraman said: “Our building is just a restaurant with a stock room upstairs so luckily no one lives here – it was a bit of a lucky escape, to be honest. 

“I have seen CCTV from when the roof tiles fell and you can see one fly off into the street. If it had happened 20 seconds later there was someone walking past.” 

Gazette: Reopened - Jenkins Cafe, in St John's Street, Colchester, has reopened its doors after being closed

The owners were required to submit planning permission to Colchester Council to fix the roof, due to it being Grade II listed. 

Plans were submitted in March 2023 and later approved in May 2023, having met the requirements to keep the style of the building aligned with others in the area.