Defiant owner of café destroyed by Newbridge fire vows to rebuild

The owner of a Newbridge café destroyed by fire has vowed to rebuild and reopen it.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service was called at 12.25pm on Wednesday February 11 to reports that a commercial premises in Newbridge High Street was alight.

The building housed the St David’s Hospice charity shop and the Station Coffee Shop and was next to the Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Following a structural review by Caerphilly County Borough Council, the fire-damaged building was demolished.

Royston Lewis, owner of the Station Coffee Shop said: “We are defiant. We want to rebuild it back as it was and we have the support of the community.

“It’s important to keep shops open in Newbridge because when they close they are never replaced.

“The fire brigade and police were fantastic and the Reverend Peter Cho, from Tabernacle Baptist Church, was tremendous.

“Everyone thankfully was okay.”

No one at the café has lost their jobs, with staff transferred to another of Mr Lewis’ cafes on Victoria Street in the town.

Shops were evacuated and the High Street was also closed for several days while demolition work was carried out.

A spokeswoman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The council would like to thank residents for their patience and cooperation while the works were carried out.”

Emma Saysell, Chief Executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “I am personally devastated that the fire happened but I’m extremely grateful that no one was injured. The local community have rallied around marvellously since the awful fire at our shop in Newbridge and showed us a tremendous lot of support at this time.
D?r Cymru Welsh Water has also offered us a helping hand.

“The Newbridge shop is one of the oldest that we have and has been open for more than 20 years. The shop has been strongly supported by the community during that time and has performed very well over the years considering its location and the size of the community it serves.

“We were extremely sad to learn that the shop had to be demolished due to fire damage.

“We are now really looking forward to it being rebuilt. In the meantime the two staff employed in the former shop will be redeployed as will the volunteers.”
While the shop is being rebuilt local supporters with items to donate to St David’s Hospice Care are asked to take these either to the Blackwood or Ystrad Mynach shops.