A popular lakeside restaurant had to be vacated after it started sinking into the water.
Christmas shoppers heading over the Dartford Crossing to visit Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex spotted the Miller and Carter restaurant submerged in the lake.
Many were surprised by the sight of the lop-sided restaurant that had started gradually sliding into an adjacent reservoir, and one observer described it as going down like the Titanic.
The popular steakhouse began to tilt precariously and has since been closed and the building evacuated.
The business sits on a converted paddle steamer and a statement from Miller and Carter said the sinking was related to structural problems.
A representative for Miller and Carter said that unfortunately they will be closed until further notice due to structural issues.
The spokesperson said that they will contact every guest as soon as possible, but for safety reasons, they’re unable to access their restaurant to answer any phone calls, and that management would be contacting all guests with forthcoming bookings, and that they sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.
The company added that if people have a booking with them they should contact them on the number provided or reserve their table at Langdon Hills instead, and said that they will answer as many calls as they can to accommodate everyone.
And that they shouldn’t call Miller and Carter Lakeside at this time as they are working hard to try to rectify the problem.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service added that they were notified of the incident, but as no one was onboard after the evacuation there were no life risks and thus they were not required to attend, and that the incident has been left under the supervision of the site owners.
Lakeside’s centre director Howard Oldstein said the vessel appeared to have stopped sinking and was sitting on the water at about a 30 per cent decline.
He told the BBC that around half a dozen staff were preparing to open for lunch when water started to ingress and that the cause of the incident is not yet known.
Unfortunately, just like a lot of restaurants these days, they’re finding it extremely hard to stay afloat.
Perhaps it hit an iceberg… lettuce. And of course, don’t phone them, the lines will be flooded.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 