Cause of Antalya Shawarma, Middlesbrough fire revealed

Antalya Shawarma on Linthorpe Road was left devastated after flames ripped through the premises on Saturday, June 20, with crews called at 10.47am.

Cleveland Fire Brigade has confirmed the fire was accidental, and caused by a faulty appliance.

The major fire at Antalya Shawarma on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The damage was catastrophic, with the site suffering 100 per cent fire destruction, with smoke and flames also spreading to neighbouring properties.

Crews remained at the scene for nearly nine hours, finally leaving at 7.43pm.

Linthorpe Road remained closed for days after while structural engineers assessed the safety of the building.

The burnt-out takeaway on Linthorpe Road. (Image: MIKE BECKETT/NORTHERN ECHO CAMERA CLUB)

In the aftermath, the heartbroken owners spoke of their loss and gratitude that no one was injured.

They said: “To our lovely customers, it’s with a heavy heart we have to share that our restaurant was destroyed by fire yesterday..

“Thankfully, no one was hurt – and that’s what matters most to us.

“Everything we built is gone, but we’re grateful to be safe. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. It means everything right now.

“To every customer who walked through our doors: thank you. For the conversations, the loyalty, the community. You made this place special.

“To every customer, and to every person who came in from the cold – thank you. You made this place a family. You made it matter.

“This place was built with our hard work, feeding people with love, treating everyone like family. The building is gone but those values aren’t.”

fire (Image: PROVIDED)

fire (Image: OLIVIA HOWLETT)

The major fire at Antalya Shawarma on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

They added: “But this wasn’t just a restaurant. For years this was more than food and tables. Every day we served our homeless friends too. It was their home. A warm place, a hot meal, a smile, no questions asked. That was as important to us as any paying customer.

“Thank you for every meal shared, every laugh, every “see you tomorrow”. We’ll rebuild from that, one step at a time

“We don’t have answers yet about what’s next. For now we’re just processing and staying safe. We’ll update you when we know more. god bless you all.”