Flames and smoke at the Lebanese Grill on Thursday

A POPULAR takeaway that found viral fame online has been wrecked by a fire – just a day after it reopened.

Lebanese Grill in Leather Lane, Clerkenwell, which has amassed thousands of views on TikTok for its boxed up shawarmas, was engulfed by flames in the early hours of yesterday morning (Thursday).

Eighty firefighters were called to the scene and the flats above the premises were evacuated. So were the neighbouring properties as a precaution.

The blaze came just one day after the takeaway reopened following a court ordered closure.

The business had been shut following repeated complaints from residents about antisocial behaviour, crowds gathering outside the premises, revving cars, late night noise and overflowing rubbish on the nearby Bourne Estate which residents said had made life “hell”.

The London Fire Brigade was called shortly before 6am after a fire broke out inside the ground floor restaurant.

Firefighters use special ladders to tackle the blaze and protect residential properties

Residents living in the area said the street was in “chaos” and that market traders who usually pitch up on Leather Lane were unable to get to work.

The fire had spread to the ducting and was affecting residential properties.

Two of the Brigade’s 32 metre turntable ladders were deployed to the scene to help tackle the flames and smoke from above.

Michael Thomas, who lives close by, said: “The whole road was closed and you could smell the fumes in the air. It was pretty much chaos on the road and the police were not letting anyone get too close.”

Awale Olad, who also lives nearby and who is a former Labour councillor in Camden, added: “Seeing a premises on fire is always shocking and distressing for any neighbourhood. Hopefully, no one was injured.

“This business has caused harm within the local community, and many residents were deeply disappointed when the magistrates allowed it to reopen.

“The amount of work and dedication put in by local people, the police and the council to secure its closure was immense, making its return particularly disheartening.”

One of the takeaway’s busy days due to its social media fame

At a hearing on June 24, the court allowed Lebanese Grill to reopen while the full legal proceedings continue, with the business agreeing to operate under a new management plan to tackle anti-social behaviour, litter and nuisance.

The next court date for a case on whether it should be allowed to stay open had been scheduled for August.

Speaking to the Tribune, Zak Khan, owner of Lebanese Grill, said: “We’re all in shock, we don’t really know at the moment what to expect. At the moment like everyone else we’re just in shock. We just opened up yesterday, it was all open yesterday and today we have had this fire.”

He added: “It’s such a shame, it puts all the staff and everybody out of job until we know what is happening. But I’m glad everyone is safe, and that the fire hasn’t spread.”

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage and the police said the cause of the incident was under investigation. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The residents left the properties of the three-storey building before the Brigade arrived and firefighters evacuated the neighbouring properties. The Brigade’s Control Office was first called at 0542 and mobilised crews from Soho, Euston, Islington and other surrounding fire stations to the scene.”