Hove Waitrose reopens following major fire
Waitrose in Hove has reopened following a major fire in June.
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) crews were called to the supermarket in Nevill Road at 3.46am on Tuesday, June 16.
ESFRS said ten fire appliances were used at the height of the incident.
At the time, an ESFRS spokesperson said: “There were no injuries reported and a fire investigation will take place.”
Waitrose confirmed the store reopened on Friday, August 7 with free tastings to ‘welcome back the local community’.
Branch Manager Nick Mort said: “We’ve been working incredibly hard to get the shop patched up as quickly as possible so we can welcome back our customers, who have been very patient and greatly missed.
“I’m so proud of all our Partners, some of whom have worked in this building for over 30 years, who have been helping wherever they can to get the job done.
"From clearing up some of the fire damage and serving customers at local shops, to setting up our temporary warehouse and restocking all our shelves - it’s really brought us together as a team.”
When the Hove branch closed, Partners at nearby Waitrose shops in Brighton, Southwick, Worthing, Burgess Hill and Hailsham were ‘quick to lend a hand’, according to the supermarket chain.
Waitrose said staff took on extra on-demand grocery deliveries and supported the local distribution team so that customers with a Hove postcode could continue to place online orders for home delivery.
The counters, café and toilets will remain closed ‘for the time being’, Waitrose said.
A temporary warehouse has been constructed to allow the shop to serve customers while the final repairs continue.