Chip shop visited by Ed Sheeran in celebrity’s favourite seaside town of Southwold in Suffolk is destroyed by fire after gas cylinders exploded in harbour
- Police sealed off area around Mrs T’s Fish and Chips in early hours this morning
- Pop star Sheeran was pictured there with staff after enjoying a meal in 2019
A chip shop visited by Ed Sheeran in the seaside town of Southwold has been destroyed by fire after gas cylinders exploded in the nearby harbour.
Police sealed off the area around Mrs T’s Fish and Chips in the early hours of this morning after the blaze broke out.
The owners of the venue said on Facebook that they have been left ‘completely heartbroken’ by the fire as they posted pictures of their ruined establishment.
Pop star Sheeran was pictured there with staff after enjoying a meal in 2019.
After the fire last night, one local tweeted: ‘Massive explosion followed by fire in Southwold Harbour. Explosion shook the caravan.’
A chip shop visited by Ed Sheeran in the seaside town of Southwold has been destroyed by fire after gas cylinders exploded in the nearby harbour. Above: Pop star Sheeran was pictured at Mrs T’s Fish and Chips with staff after enjoying a meal in 2019
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service sent 12 vehicles with nearly 100 crew to the town after the 999 reports.
The mystery blast centred on the harbour area in Ferry Road, close to Blackshore Quay.
Photos show large orange flames as plumes of smoke billowed across the sky.
The fire service said the blaze caused ‘extensive damage’ to fishermen’s huts and two chip shops.
It’s not yet clear whether anyone has been hurt or what caused the explosion, although attention may focus on gas cylinders which were allegedly stored in one of the huts.
Police sealed off the area around Mrs T’s Fish and Chips in the early hours of this morning after the blaze broke out
Posting on Facebook, Mrs T’s Fish and Chip Shop said: ‘Not the news we wanted to get woken up to but unfortunately, Mrs T’s has been caught in a fire on the harbour early hours of this morning.
‘We are completely heartbroken.
‘We want to thank the Fire team for all their hard work throughout the night to put the blaze out.
‘We will keep everyone updated via our socials as soon as we know more.’
In a tweet at around 6am, the fire brigade said: ‘A fire overnight has caused extensive damage to fishermens’ huts and two fish and chip shops at Blackshore Quay in Southwold.
‘The incident is now over but Ferry Road will be closed off today as investigations get underway and the public is asked to avoid the area.’
The fashionable resort is nicknamed Chelsea-on-Sea because of all the celebrities who flock there for holidays, retreating to second homes away from London.
Chris Evans, David Tennant, Dame Judi Dench, Michael Palin, Griff Rhys-Jones and Stephen Fry are all regular visitors.
Photos show large orange flames as plumes of smoke billowed across the sky
The late detective writers PD James and Ruth Rendell, along with Butterflies actor all bought homes there.
The town has less than 2,000 residents in the winter but this swells to almost 10,000 in the summer, many of them star-struck trippers agog at the thought of glimpsing a celeb.
There’s even a ‘Southwolds Celebrity Tour’ where they can walk past homes of celebrities and visit the pubs and resuarants where the stars relax.
The walk starts at the 19th century pier on the beach, which was the setting for several Little Britain comedy show sketches in which Matt Lucas and David Walliams delighted locals with their ‘ladylike’ behaviour.
Some of the famous multi-coloured beach huts change hands for more than £100,000.
The town centre’s Orwell Bookshop commemorates one of Southwold’s most famous residents, George Orwell.
