'It’s a disaster' - Owner of popular Blue Lagooon chippy speaks as shop devastated by fire
Many businesses have been devastated by the blaze which ripped through Union Street in Glasgow on Sunday night
Businesses are counting the cost of the huge fire which swept through Glasgow city centre, with many premises destroyed in the blaze and others remaining closed while the full extent of the damage is assessed.
More than £80,000 has already been raised in public donations to support businesses devastated by the blaze, with a number of crowdfunders rapidly set up as the scale of the destruction started to emerge.
One of the businesses lost to the fire, which collapsed the building - and the famous Forsyth House dome next to Central Station - was Blue Lagoon Fish and Chips.
Follow live updates here as Glasgow Central Station remains closed until further notice following major fire
Alessandro Varese, owner of the Blue Lagoon and neighbouring cafe Sexy Coffee, which was also destroyed in the fire, said: “It’s a disaster. It has affected three of our properties in Blue Lagoon, Sexy Coffee and our head office.
“We will try and assess the damage today and aim to rebuild and reopen ASAP. We are glad no one has been hurt.”
The family-run Blue Lagoon takeaway at the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street has been a much-loved spot for fish and chips since the late 1970s, and welcomed singer Justin Bieber in 2016 for a haggis supper and Irn Bru after he performed at the Hydro.
It underwent a major refurbishment in 2022 after it was extended to offer a sit-in restaurant, as well as a takeaway.
Watch: Huge fire near Glasgow Central station rips through building as firefighters battle blaze
A separate statement from Sexy Coffee said: "As many of you may have seen in the news, there has been a major fire in the building where our shop is located.
"We are absolutely devastated to confirm that the shop has sadly been destroyed in the fire. It is heartbreaking for us and our team, especially after the support and loyalty we have received from so many of you over the years.
“However, we want to reassure everyone that this is not the end. We will rebuild, revamp the shop, and reopen as soon as possible.”
Haus of Hair salon, which opened just days ago on Union Street, has also burned down, with a crowdfunder now running to support the new owner.
Read more: Glasgow Union Street Fire: Everything we know about the blaze that tore through Victorian building next to Central Station
As of this afternoon (9 March) over £80,000 has been raised via GoFundMe appeals for businesses affected by the fire.
Dozens of appeals have been set up in less than 24 hours to help those affected. These include over £12,000 which has been raised by Scott McAnally to support the nine self-employed tattoo artists at Lucky in Love Tattoos, after the fire destroyed their equipment, supplies and studio built over years of work.
Duncan Sweeney has raised over £11,000 for Hundred Demons Tattoos, whose premises at 111 Union Street were destroyed in the blaze, leaving the business without essential equipment.
Owner of Samuse Studio, Sam Hendry has raised over £5,800 after the fire spread from a shop below into the building, destroying her makeup kits, chairs, mirrors and years of professional equipment she had built up to run her studio.
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