Angel shopping district to celebrate final business reopening after Upper Street flooding with street party

Thai Square sits right in front of the water main that burst on December 5 and devastated shops and homes.

Six businesses were forced to close completely and many homeowners are still involved in drawn-out insurance claims with Thames Water.

The restaurant was forced to close for 11 months due to the damage caused by the flood, and manager Mannuthat Tanpradit said it was a good feeling to finally be able to open its doors again on Thursday.

“Our basement is the kitchen area and the whole thing was flooded,” he said. “We were only meant to be closed for a few months but there were delays with the insurance and we had to make sure everything was dried out.

“But we are here now! There’s a very energetic, excited feeling for us here. But we had a dilemma with the opportunity to re-do everything.

Thai Square had been here for a long time so we’ve changed the layout and improved the floor plan. As well as improving the menu.”

Thai Square’s reopening came shortly after the Thames Water workers packed up and left after months of road closures to fix the Victorian pipe.

And the Angel.London business improvement district plans to celebrate in style with Angel Day on November 18.

The event has even attracted Father Christmas himself, who will be joined by his elves and reindeer when he switches on the Christmas lights at 5pm.

Musicians will also be playing and there will be hot chestnuts in Chapel Market, mulled wine and hot cider tea in Camden Passage and the cast from Hoxton Hall’s Puss in Boots will also be making an appearance.

As promised, Thames Water has contributed “significantly” to the entertainment, as well as the Christmas lights and signposts for the district, which will be erected next year.

As well as the usual sparkling Christmas lights, there will be new illuminations in Camden Passage and 40 trees along Upper Street will also be lit up.