Insurance to cover the cost of Rhyl restaurant repairs

Insurance will cover the cost of water damage to a popular council-owned Rhyl restaurant, including business losses.

The 1891 Restaurant and Bar at Rhyl Pavilion closed in July when the main water tank flooded the venue in the early hours of July 7, also damaging the theatre.

Although the theatre’s box office area, lobby and toilets were also damaged, the Pavilion’s main auditorium was left largely unscathed by the flooding and has reopened.

But the restaurant has remained closed since staff revealed they were devastated over the extent of the damage.  No date has been set for reopening.

Denbighshire Leisure, a council-funded, not-for-profit branch of Denbighshire County Council, run the operation.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service submitted a Freedom of Information request (FOI) to reveal the extent of the damage and cost to the taxpayer. The FOI revealed that more repairs are set to be carried out in the new year and that insurance would cover the cost of the work.

A spokeswoman for Denbighshire Leisure said: “The damage extended throughout the entire core of the restaurant and the main bars, causing significant damage to the infrastructure, toilets, walls, floors and ceilings. This resulted in the entire restaurant having to be stripped out in readiness for reinstatement.”
“The entire restaurant needs to be reinstated, costs for which are yet to be agreed and are therefore commercially sensitive between the company and the insurance loss adjusters.
“The ground floor was completed by November 20, in readiness for the up and coming shows and pantomime. (The) Main upper floor restaurant will be announced in due course, as specialist surveys are needed to take place to inform the package of works. Work is likely to commence early in the New Year.”

When asked if staff had been furloughed, the spokeswoman replied, “Denbighshire Leisure has never furloughed staff. The entire workforce has been redeployed to other venues until the restaurant reopens fully.”

She added: “Denbighshire Leisure has made no losses as a result of the closure. Denbighshire Leisure holds business disruption insurance, and losses incurred as a consequence of the closure are covered under this policy.”

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter