Anchors Wharf fire a memory as Steve and Denise Ryan revamp venue

The beloved venue was gutted by fire in May and now, six months later, the owners have revealed their grand plans for the rebuild.

Six months after a fire tore through the beloved Anchors Wharf restaurant owners Denise and Steve Ryan have revealed their big plans for the rebuild.

The Coffs Coast community was holding its collective breath when images of the waterfront venue with smoke billowing out of its windows began circulating on May 3.

Thanks to the work of local fire crews Anchors Wharf was saved and the couple turned their focus to rebuilding.

Mr Ryan said the process had taken longer than they anticipated but all the initial clean up work was completed last week.

Denise and Steve Ryan at their Anchors Wharf restaurant in Urunga. The building was almost destroyed by a fire on May 3 which was caused by a faulty fridge. Photo: Tim Jarrett

Now they are pressing ahead with fitting out the building to make it bigger and better than ever, including with “state of the art” equipment.

“Plans are being finalised as to the new layout. We are putting in a new bar and there will be a whole new design,” he said.

“At the end of the day it is going to look stunning.”

Anchors Wharf is situated on the banks of the picturesque Kalang River and has gained a strong following as one of the most loved restaurants on the Coffs Coast.

A blaze at Anchors Wharf nearly destroyed the beloved Urunga restaurant in May.

The Ryans were hundreds of kilometres away when they got the call the restaurant they had owned since 1997 was on fire.

It had also been the family home for many years and as they quickly made their way back from the Gold Coast Ms Ryan watched a live stream of the unfolding events.

The fire was caused by an electrical fault in a bar fridge and Mr Ryan still considers it supremely lucky the whole place didn’t go up.

Work begins on retiling the venue.

“Another 10 minutes and it would have been all over red rover for the building,” he said.

The couple were “overwhelmed” by the support from the community and have continued to be buoyed by the level of interest in their progress.

Mr Ryan said they still had offers from people looking for a way to help.

“It has been unbelievable really,”

“I’d just like to say thank you to the public for their support.”