Popular Northampton restaurant REOPENS after nearly a month after car damages gas supply

Diner 81, in London Road near Grange Park, was forced to temporarily close its doors since May 20 after a motorist crashed into a wall and damaged the site's gas meter.

The restaurant, formerly Buddies Diner, has remained closed ever since and has posted a number of updates on social media about the situation.

On June 4, the venue said: "We are so sorry but we still have no gas, and we still have no idea when we will have some…. Stick with us, Buddies."

However ‘the news we have all been waiting for’ was posted on the diner’s social pages on June 15 which read: As of Tuesday 16th June 10am we will officially be OPEN!!!!

“We cannot WAIT to see you all!”

81 is offering a 10 per cent discount on food between Tuesday- Friday (this week only) as ‘a little something from us to say sorry’.

The Chronicle & Echo contacted both British Gas and National Gas on June 11, who both said they are working to get the issue fixed ‘as soon as possible’.

A British Gas spokesman said: "There was damage to the gas meter at the property as a result of a car crashing into a wall.

"National Gas is responsible for replacing the meter but were unable to fit it until the wall was repaired, as a meter cannot be fitted and left exposed.

"Late last month, the customer confirmed the wall had been rebuilt and National Gas attended the site to replace the meter. However, there were issues with the gas pressure, which required further checks to ensure the correct meter was fitted. We understand these checks have now been completed.

"We are working with National Gas to get the gas meter fitted as soon as possible."

A National Gas spokesman said: "We are aware of the situation affecting the premises and we understand this has been a challenging situation for the customer.

"We received the request at the start of the month and moved quickly to provide the necessary metering information to British Gas. We understand they are now progressing this, and we are working to schedule and deliver the required work as soon as possible.

"We are committed to resolving this for the customer as quickly as possible, while ensuring safety remains our top priority."

In December 2020, the original Buddies boss Andrew Duthie has renovated the former premises into 81, which is named after the year the first Buddies opened in Dychurch Lane.

In 2018 Andrew and his business partner Terry York retired from the restaurant trade before Buddies was sold onto Simpson Catering who shut the existing five Buddies USA restaurants.