Restaurant owner speaks of 'awful time' after fire

Benvenuti was severely damaged by a fire just before Christmas

The owner of a restaurant has spoken of the “awful time” he has had since his venue was wrecked by a fire just before Christmas.

Benvenuti, in Pershore, Worcestershire, was damaged by a blaze that broke out in a residential building and spread to the restaurant in the early hours of 18 December.

The damage to the venue was so devastating the fire service told the restaurant it could be 18 months before the building was safe to move back in to.

Owner Luca Gallito told BBC Hereford and Worcester: “It’s been an awful time and I can’t honestly find the right words to describe what I felt.

“I saw what I’d built for over four years burning in front of me. It was very sad to see and I’m still trying to get over it.”

He said he had had to take some time away with his wife and children to try to get his mind off what had happened.

“It’s obviously something that’s always on my mind now. I worked very hard for it. I made it the way it was,” he added.

Benvenuti has moved into a vacant site in Droitwich

But it is not all bad news for Mr Gallito and his 14-strong staff, who he has been paying for the past eight weeks despite not being able to open.

On Tuesday, the Benvenuti crew opened up a new venue in the former All' Angelo restaurant in nearby Droitwich.

Mr Gallito said every member of staff had pitched in to help move the restaurant’s operations and get the new site ready for the launch.

Staff have opened up a new Benvenuti restaurant in Droitwich

He said the place had been busy since opening and thanked people for their support.

“It’s been great, I’ve had so many emails and many messages. Everyone has been very positive and very supportive as well. Food brings us together,” he added.