A POPULAR Bromsgrove restaurant has been forced to close after it was hit by flooding earlier this week.
Waz’s Bistrôt in the town centre is shut after a water main burst in the night, filling the restaurant’s kitchen and lower level.
The damage caused has meant the restaurant must close for two weeks for repairs, posing the owners with a difficult situation, especially during the current cost of living crisis.
Bookings have had to be cancelled and deposits refunded leaving restaurant owner Wassim Draoui – also known as ‘Waz’ – concerned about making up the shortfall for the business.
Waz said: “It is difficult enough to keep a restaurant running with increasing costs and the recent culture of last minute booking cancellations, but this latest set back is really concerning.”
The restaurant is usually open from Tuesday evenings through to Sundays, with staff arriving as early as 5am each day to prepare fresh ingredients which are served for the evening meal times.
Macie, a member of staff at Waz’s restaurant, said: “It is devastating – we turned up for work and there was water everywhere.
“We had to cancel much needed bookings for the evening, and it meant that all the fresh produce might go to waste.”
The restaurant normally enjoys a steady amount of custom, but with rising costs everywhere, every booking has counted towards keeping the restaurant running.
As well as holding cooking classes for local children, and providing language lessons, Waz often speaks out as a champion of small business, commenting on how small businesses are finding it more and more difficult to survive in a business environment geared towards helping out the bigger competition.
Bu, despite the setback, Waz is remaining defiant.
He said: “I had a dream to begin my own restaurant and create something incredible and unique for my guests, and this is another setback, but we will overcome, and soon will be open again to continue to serve the best food to our customers.”
Waz’s Bistrôt serves Mediterranean and French inspired seafood, steak and other dishes, as well as drinks and cocktails to its guests.
The venue is number one on TripAdvisor in the ‘best restaurants in Worcestershire’ and is in the Midlands’ top ten and the top ten per cent restaurants worldwide.
Waz also received best Midlands Enterprise 2022 for Seafood Catering.
