Lincoln's Vegan Café Shanti Faces Tragic Fire Incident
In a shocking turn of events, a fire erupted at Café Shanti, a popular vegan café located at Clasketgate in Lincoln, on Wednesday, October 25 at about 11.30pm. The owners have publicised their distress after the incident caused extensive damage to the cafe's infrastructure, including the walls, flooring and chairs.
Fire Cause and Implications
The Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue declared the cause of the fire to be the spontaneous combustion of tea towels that had accidentally been left in the tumble drier. The disaster has also imposed a significant financial strain on the business.
"Jo and I have taken it hard. We spent December, January and February decorating and renovating the café to make it into a place that we're proud of," recounts Mel StJohn, 29, co-owner of the café with her friend Jo Farr.
Struggling to Recover
Despite the tragedy, the café’s owners have begun recovery efforts. Their takeaway service resumed on Friday, November 3, with an overall reopening date set for Saturday, November 11. The reopening was initially planned for Thursday, November 9, but was postponed due to persistent smoke odour.
Crowdfunding to Compensate the Loss
In reaction to their community’s urging, Ms StJohn and Ms Farr initiated a GoFundMe on Tuesday, November 7. The target set is to recoup the cost of initial repairs, replace damaged furniture, and sustain wage payments for their staff. The fundraising move, according to Ms StJohn, was prompted by people outside Lincoln wanting to assist the Café Shanti's rebuilding efforts.
About Café Shanti
Established in early 2023, Café Shanti is Lincoln's first vegan-only eatery. Besides serving a diverse range of vegan cuisine, the owners have future plans to host live music and potentially acquire an alcohol licence.