A woman in her 20s sustained potentially life-changing injuries after a car ploughed into the Ippudo ramen restaurant on Essex Road late Friday evening. The incident occurred at approximately 10pm, prompting a response from police, the London Fire Brigade, and paramedics.
Officers confirmed that the pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while four other individuals received treatment for minor injuries at the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene, and no arrests have been made. Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101.
Restaurant Staff Shaken but Safe
Mike Holmes, Ippudo’s facilities manager for London, described the ordeal as having turned the staff’s “world upside down.” He noted that employees were closing the restaurant when the crash happened and were fortunate to escape unharmed. “They looked a bit shaken up but they’re resilient and thankfully they are all fine,” he said. “They were helping the injured people out of the front of the shop, and we’re proud of them for that.”
The front of the building sustained severe damage, and the restaurant is currently boarded up. Holmes added that the property is a listed building, which adds complexity to the repair process. “The damage was really severe at the front of the shop. And that has to be rebuilt before we can do anything inside,” he explained.
Reopening Efforts Underway
Ippudo is working closely with insurers to assess the damage and plan the rebuild. While the company aims to reopen “as soon as possible,” Holmes acknowledged the uncertainty. “We can’t really plan anything just yet,” he said. In the meantime, staff have been relocated to other Ippudo locations across London.
Ippudo, a global ramen chain originating from Japan, opened its Essex Road branch in June of the previous year. The restaurant has since become a popular spot in the area, and the community has expressed support following the incident.
