A huge power outage affects parts of Stockport tonight (Saturday), forcing restaurants that have already been hit by a string of Covid cancellations to close on one of the busiest nights of the year.
More than 860 households and businesses in Marple are without electricity.
Electricity North West said it hoped power would be back by 1 a.m.
Seafood restaurant The Fisherman’s Table posted on Facebook: “When it rains the hospitality really pours in … with massive cancellations and now prime time on a Saturday night with a restaurant full of customers, now a power outage that won’t be until 11pm solved.
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“Summarizes the last two years.”
Fisherman’s Table owner Jamie Barrett said there were about 55 guests in the restaurant when the power went out, and 16 more were booked for 8 p.m.
He told the Manchester Evening News, “It’s just a nightmare.
“It’s the last Saturday night before the lockdown that looks like it’s inevitable and we’re going to lose 2,000 pounds as a result.
“Like everyone else, we had a lot of rejections, but tonight we were almost fully booked.
Jamie Barrett Marple Fish Shop Market Street Marple has a giant halibut picture of Jamie Barrett with the giant halibut fish
“In the past we would have turned off the candles and kept going, but now when the power goes out the gas goes out too, so we couldn’t do anything.
“We gave everyone half an hour to finish their drinks, then we had to close. It’s so frustrating. “
The Cambodian restaurant Kambuja Marple wrote on Facebook: “We had another blackout that affected the entire street.
“Sorry to everyone who half eaten their meal or who ordered something to take away tonight.
“We thought these issues were behind us after the cable was replaced, but clearly not. Sorry again.”
The Indian restaurant Marple Spice wrote: “Marple Spice is experiencing a power failure (December 21, 18 – 7:50 pm), as are many other shops next to us.
“For this reason, our telephone lines and all web ordering systems have been switched off. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
A statement on the Electricity North West website said the blackout was reported at 7:30 p.m. and engineers were on the way.
It added, “This blackout was caused by an unexpected incident on the high voltage cable that powers your home or business.
“We didn’t know this was going to happen until your power went out, but now we know that we will safely turn your power back on as soon as possible.”
