A family-run fish and chip shop in Aberdeen, which was destroyed in a serious fire last winter, will rise from the ashes next spring.
Award-winning chef Rikki Pirie from Newmachar was fast asleep when his business, Sea Salt and Sole, on Station Road in Dyce burst into flames, just before 4am on November 22.
And, by the time the father-of-two arrived at the scene, the takeaway was fully engulfed in a well-developed blaze, which lasted for three hours and left the building an empty shell.
However, after almost a year of planning and preparation, work began yesterday to rebuild the chipper and pave the way for Mr Pirie’s business to start trading again.
The new development – which will be built by contractors Alan Grant Grampian – will be constructed to modern standards, and is expected to be completed by February, 2017.
Mr Pirie, 36, said his family couldn’t wait to welcome customers back into their business which, just months before the blaze, was short-listed in the National Fish and Chip Awards.
He added: “It was a complete shock to see our business burning, I felt completely numb at first, and I didn’t know what to do.
“But we weren’t going to give up that easily, and after months of going through the planning process, getting the insurance sorted and so on, we’re so happy to finally start re-building.
“The whole community in Dyce has been supportive of us ever since the fire, so we’re looking forward to serving them fish suppers again once we’re open.”
The neighbouring Puddleducks after-school club, which was also destroyed in the fire, will be rebuilt alongside the chipper.