Seven months of challenges for cafe owner after fire tears through business in March

A cafe owner who lost her livelihood after a devastating fire tore through her business in March has described the difficult challenges the last seven months has brought, and how she and her partner are poised to kickstart the new year in more positive fashion.

- ROBERT DALLING Reporter [e-mail]

Lucy Sharp was awoken at 2.10am on Sunday, March 23, to be alerted to a fire which had taken hold at her cafe, Lucy's Best Bites. It was first spotted by a police officer who was passing the High Street, Gorseinon, Swansea, premises at 1.45am and saw smoke emerging from inside.

He contacted the fire service who attended the scene before notifying the owner.

Flames tore through the business, completely destroying everything inside. Nothing was salvageable, including charity memorabilia and collection buckets which were destroyed.

Ms Sharp, who ran the business with her partner Mark Williams, said: “It's been a really up and down seven months - it's been difficult for us.