A FAMILY-RUN restaurant is set to reopen after a “heart-breaking” ordeal which forced it to shut for weeks and left bosses with a huge £40,000 repair bill. 

Prowse, a Mediterranean restaurant above the Westcliff Arches in Shorefield Road, opened six months ago, but a devastating flood at the end of March forced them to close. 

The restaurant’s interior has been “completely ripped out” and the owners are now preparing to “start again”. 

Echo: Devastated - the whole restaurant had to be gutted.Devastated - the whole restaurant had to be gutted. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Cat Prowse and her family have been working tirelessly for the last three weeks to get the restaurant up and running once again.

While initially expecting a repair bill of more than £40,000, the final figure is feared to be “even higher”.

Cat, who is from Southend, said: “This place is everything to me. It’s got my name on the door. This has been a massive kick in the teeth.”

After a rapid refurbishment, the restaurant is planned to host a “grand reopening” event on April 12, with live music from Southend-based musician James Fox.

Echo: Under construction - workmen are getting the restaurant ready in time for it to reopen.Under construction - workmen are getting the restaurant ready in time for it to reopen. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Following an extensive investigation, in which the restaurant’s floor was ripped out to replace water pipes, the cause was found to be a historic problem with the building’s pipes.

She said: “We had to rip everything out. The floor was excavated to replace the underground pipes.

Echo: Gutted - the floors and walls were completely stripped bare.Gutted - the floors and walls were completely stripped bare. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

“It’s currently £40,000 in damage, but we’re worried it could be even higher than that.

“It’s a historic problem with the building which has unfortunately had a disastrous impact.

“I've felt so disheartened, but we’ve got to claw our way out of this.”

Echo: Starting again - the restaurant is situated above Westcliff's Arches.Starting again - the restaurant is situated above Westcliff's Arches. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

While Cat admits the restaurant could look “completely different” to how customers have come to know it, she says it will still offer “the same excellent service and amazing food”.

She added: “It’s been heart-breaking having to let customers down. Thankfully, they have been very understanding.”

Echo: Name above the door - the restaurant opened at the end of last year.Name above the door - the restaurant opened at the end of last year. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Diner Jason Thomas had been looking forward to celebrating his 80th birthday at the restaurant, but his meal had to be cancelled.

He said: “It is a shame, but I’m excited to see it finally reopen.

“The front of house staff are utterly charming. It’s a super place and very welcoming. The staff can’t do enough for you, which is not as common as you’d think.

“Cat’s enthusiasm for her restaurant catches you straight away.”