Dozens of Valentine's Day diners had to be rescued, as David Fenton reports
A seafront restaurant in Hampshire that was wrecked by the St Valentine's Day storm is to reopen.
The Army and emergency services had to rescue 32 people trapped by surging floodwater in the Marine Restaurant in Milford on Sea on 14 February.
No-one was injured but sea-facing windows were smashed by shingle picked up by the wind and waves.
The upper floors were reopened as a cafe-bar six weeks after the storm but it will reopen fully on Friday.
The owners received a grant from a government fund to help businesses affected by the winter floods.
Richard Thompson, who received business rate relief and a business support grant of £5,000, is also applying for a council grant to help the restaurant withstand future flooding.
He said: "It took a long time for the building to dry out to get on with the decorating and the flooring.
"We've been working hard in the last four to five weeks. We've got a wedding here on Saturday so we've been working towards that."
Windows at the Marine Restaurant were smashed by shingle picked up by fierce winds
- Published30 May 2014
- Published15 February 2014
- Published15 February 2014
