A fire has closed Rainer Becker’s original Roka restaurant in London’s Charlotte Street, with the Soho venue not due to reopen for at least a month.
50 guests were evacuated from the Soho restaurant last Friday (30 July) after the fire broke out.
No one was harmed but the cause of the incident is as yet unclear. Roka is expected to reopen to the public in four to five weeks, although the cost of repairs is not yet known.
The fire is believed to have damaged the restaurant's ducting from the ground floor to the roof. Four fire engines and 20 firefighters attended the scene.
Incredible support
Philippe Moullet, Roka’s managing director, said: “Our priority at present is assisting those guests whom we have unfortunately had to cancel at short notice.
“We have had an incredible amount of support and understanding from our customers, both on the night and those that we are now trying to relocate and would like to thank them for their continued support.”
A second 140-cover Roka opened in London’s Canary Wharf late last year, and guests are being offered reservations at the site as well as at sister London restaurant Zuma.
The group also has Roka outposts in Hong Kong and Scottsdale, Arizona.