Bus smashes into restaurant claiming to be the only one to survive the Great Fire of London

Mr Danous has owned the restaurant for 17 years
Supachai Martwiset
Olivia Tobin6 September 2018

A restaurant whose bosses claim is housed in the only building to survive the Great Fire of London in 1666 has been damaged after a bus crashed into it.

The Thai Square at Wig and Pen, which has survived both the fire and the Blitz, was hit by number 341 London bus at about 4am on Thursday morning.

Owner Haim Danous said he “couldn’t believe it” when he found out the building had been damaged.

Mr Danous said the side of the listed building, which has stood since 1620 was “completely” damaged and its rare stain-glass windows were smashed.

The force of the crash, Mr Danous added, woke up employees of the restaurant who slept above the building, on The Strand.

TfL have said the bus operator is investigating the crash (Supachai Martwiset )
Supachai Martwiset

He said: “Some of my staff were there and they said the building shook. I had an email at 4am and then at 8am I had calls telling me to come down.”

He added: “I just couldn’t believe it. Maybe it was an act of God, we don’t know what happened with the driver.”

A spokesman for TfL said the bus operator, Arriva, is investigating the crash and confirmed that there were no injuries to report at the scene.

Mr Danous, who owns several restaurants from the same chain across London, said he was sad to see this restaurant in particular see damaged.

The Great Fire of London took place in 1666
Getty Images

He said: “The building was such a quaint and beautiful one, so much history. Thank God we don’t have to demolish it, but there will be expensive work to fix it.”

The business, Mr Danous said, has been closed until further notice and it is feared it will be shut for three to four months.

In its past, it was first used by keepers of the exclusive members club Wig and Pen. Following that, it was a club used for members of the press to meet with lawyers, Mr Danous said.

Although the business faces closure for some months, Mr Danous said his “loyal” customers will still be there after repair work is finished.

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