WORKMEN are working around the clock to ensure Romsey's fire-damaged Bertie's restaurant reopens by St Valentine's Day.

Fire destroyed the kitchen at the premises in The Hundred late Friday afternoon, forcing the owner, David Birmingham, to close the popular restaurant and hotel until a new kitchen is built.

Luckily a fire door prevented the flames from spreading into the nearby restaurant area but everything in the kitchen was wrecked beyond repair.

Romsey fire crews tackled the blaze and evacuated people in nearby buildings.

The kitchen's specially reinforced fire-resistant ceiling stopped the flames reaching the nine hotel rooms above.

But, like a phoenix, a new kitchen is already rising from the ashes. Builders are working 24-hours days to construct a temporary kitchen in the restaurant's conservatory until the original one is rebuilt.

Restaurant boss, David said: "Everyone is pulling out all the stops to make sure the premises is open in time for St Valentine's Day."

"The whole kitchen was incinerated, the strip lights even melted and stainless steel shelving buckled under the heat. The window at the back glowed and was red hot.

"The fire officer thinks it was caused by a gas leak. The fire brigade were brilliant and responded quickly," said David.

All Bertie's staff have been placed on gardening leave but David is hoping to be back in business by February 12th and is contacting customers who have made bookings.

"I had to do this because I have nothing for them to do," said David. "I hope to get the restaurant up and running again as quickly as possible. It will be interesting to see what the courtyard looks like when it's a kitchen," added David.

David estimates it will cost him at least £40,000 to replace the kitchen equipment, some of which was only two months old.

Hot Heads hairdresser Joanna Cleverley was the first to spot the flames and she called Hampshire Fire and Rescue.

"I was cleaning up at about 4.15pm when I look out the window and saw a blaze inside the window at Bertie's. There was lots of smoke," said Jo.

Colleague Sarah White added: "I was worried there was going to be an explosion. We moved our car to make it easier for the fire brigade. We were in the middle of haircuts and had to evacuate. I've never had to deal with something quite so scary as this."