That sinking feeling! Miller and Carter steamboat steakhouse slides deeper into the water at Lakeside shopping centre… as safety review is set to determine if it will ever float again
- Venue at Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock began sinking on December 23
- Miller & Carter spokesman said structural assessment would happen this month
- Sinking left Christmas diners disappointed as all bookings were cancelled
- New photos show how the vessel has fallen further below the water line
A stricken paddle steamer hosting a popular steak restaurant that began sinking in Essex last month has fallen further below the water line, dramatic new pictures show.
The floating Miller and Carter steakhouse, at the Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock began sinking into the site’s lake on December 23, as staff were preparing for lunch service.
A Miller & Carter spokesman said a structural assessment of the vessel would happen this month. This has yet to take place.
The partial sinking left dozens of Christmas diners disappointed as all bookings were cancelled and the restaurant was closed.
Now, barriers have sealed off the entrance to the restaurant, although no workers were seen on site when pictures were taken yesterday for MailOnline.
A stricken paddle steamer hosting a popular steak restaurant that began sinking in Essex last month has fallen further below the water line, dramatic new pictures show
The images show how the entirety of the restaurant’s ground floor is now submerged in several feet of water
They show how the entirety of the restaurant’s ground floor is now submerged in several feet of water.
Last month, the front of the restaurant was still above the water line but has now slipped beneath the surface.
A sign pinned to the barriers that seal off the gangway is titled ‘Please excuse our appearance’ and adds: ‘We are working hard to have this issue resolved and hope to have everything looking spic and span shortly.
‘Thank you for your understanding.’
Last month, the front of the restaurant (above) was still above the water line but has now slipped beneath the surface
A sign pinned to the barriers that seal off the gangway is titled ‘Please excuse our appearance’ and adds: ‘We are working hard to have this issue resolved and hope to have everything looking spic and span shortly. Thank you for your understanding’
Pictures taken yesterday show how the ground floor of the restaurant is now submerged in at least two feet of water
The restaurant was spotted sinking into the lake, which is about 50ft deep, at around 11am on December 23.
One onlooker who posted a video of the sinking venue told how it was ‘going down like the Titanic.’
Excited children gathered at the water front to catch a glimpse of the restaurant as it sank.
Customers took to social media to complain that they would have to make other arrangements for Christmas Day.
Izabella Barcikowska, 48, the general manager of nearby restaurant Las Iguanas said at the time: ‘I looked out of the window and all the staff from Miller and Carters were in the boardwalk.
‘I look across and the restaurant was sinking into the water. First it was leaning to the right side. Now it is leaning to the left side. It’s completely flooded.’
Another new image shows the water level at the stricken steakhouse, which is set to be examined by experts
At least two feet of water now covers the ground floor of the restaurant. Above: The vessel pictured yesterday
No workers were seen at the site when images were taken yesterday. Advertising boards still display ‘festive’ menu options
The rear of the paddle steamer is seen above in an image taken yesterday for MailOnline
The Miller and Carter steakhouse is seen yesterday, with the water level now higher than it was last month
The area outside the entrance of the steakhouse is seen above submerged in water
Lakeside shopping centre’s director, Howard Oldstein, said after the restaurant started sinking that staff were waiting for the vessel to take its ‘natural course’ before they assessed what action needed to be taken.
A spokesman then told the Thurrock Gazette at the end of December: ‘Our initial priority has been to update guests who had bookings to dine with us and an assessment of the structure will then follow in the new year.
‘As you can imagine at this time of the year it is difficult to get the specialist help which may be required, so the picture will be clearer in the new year when normal business operations resume.’
MailOnline has approached Miller and Carter for comment. A Lakeside shopping centre spokesman said the structural assessment is yet to take place.
The paddle steamer that hosts the restaurant has been a fixture on Lakeside for since at least 2007.
The Miller and Carter steakhouse is seen yesterday, in images that show how water now covers the ground floor
The gangway leading to the boat is seen sealed off yesterday after last month’s incident
It is not clear if the restaurant will re-open or if it will remain permanently closed. Above: The vessel yesterday
Outdoor seating is seen mostly submerged down the side of the vessel in an image taken yesterday
It was bought by Miller and Carter, who refurbished it and opened their venue in 2019. Before changing hands, it was an Old Orleans restaurant.
The development of Lakeside was completed in 1990 on what had been a chalk quarry.
Quarries spanned the area throughout the 20th century and later filled with water to become lakes. That is where Lakeside gets its name.
The paddle steamer has been a fixture at Lakeside for years, but was bought by Miller and Carter who refurbished it and opened it in 2019.
It has been there since at least 2007 and was previously an Old Orleans restaurant.
Construction on Lakeside was completed in 1990 at the site of a former chalk quarry – many of which spanned the area throughout the 20th century, leaving gorges.
Many of the gorges filled with water and became lakes, such as the lake next to Lakeside itself – which is where the shopping centre gets its name.
The paddle steamer has been a fixture at Lakeside for years, but was bought by Miller and Carter who refurbished it and opened it in 2019. Above: The vessel before the incident
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