The owner of a café destroyed in the London riots two years ago will finally reopen his business today.
The Green Mango Café in Ealing had only been trading for three months when it was engulfed in flames after rioters set a neighbouring shop alight in August 2011. It suffered £120,000 worth of damage.
Now, after suffering virtual financial ruin following small compensation payouts, owner Zakar Hussain, 36, said he was thrilled to be serving again.
“It has been tough, but I am really pleased and very excited to finally start trading,” he said. “New staff have been trained, new equipment bought and we are ready to open our doors.”
His insurance firm only paid a small proportion of the cost of the damage, and Mr Hussain did not receive compensation under the Riot Damages Act, which entitles victims of disturbances to claim cash from local police funds.
Mr Hussain claims that as he had received some cash from private insurers, he was not eligible. He added: “I received a small payout from insurers as the business was not fully covered. I was forced to sell my house to fund the renovation of the café. The whole thing has been a complete nightmare.”
Earlier this year ministers announced a review of the Act after hundreds of family businesses said they struggled to receive adequate compensation.
Julian Bell, leader of Ealing council, said: “The café is the last shop in the area to reopen. For many families, and in particular Zak, the process has been long and difficult. The issues with compensation that many experienced have drawn into question why innocent riot victims had to suffer this way. The only silver lining is that the riots bought the community together.”
The Green Mango, in Ealing High Street, was one of a series of shops torched by masked youths during four days of violence. Local resident Richard Mannington Bowes, 68, was attacked as he tried to stamp out a fire in Springbridge Road, and died in hospital.
The café is set to reopen at noon. Mr Hussain said: “The community rallied round and supported me throughout, which has been wonderful.”
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Policing minister Damian Green said: “The Riot Damages Act was written more than a century ago. The 2011 riots showed the need for improvements and the review will consider how to reform it.” Home Office figures show that as of last month, 11 of 750 claims made to the Met police under the Act remained unsettled. Some £29 million compensation had been awarded via the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.
