The Teddington Fish Bar saga turns a positive corner and will once again be serving the community after closing for more than a year.

The reopening yesterday (3 September) comes as owner, John Charalambous, attended a scheduled court hearing on Friday, 30 August after the landlord changed the locks of the premises "without prior warning," forcing John to secure a court injunction.

Teddington Fish Bar began serving customers again on Tuesday, 3 September (credit: Laura Cole).

To the chippy owner's relief and all involved, the outcome was "favourable" and has meant the Landlord has had to return the keys to John for Teddington Fish Bar to be able to trade again with immediate effect whilst the full legal process is followed or an agreement between the two parties can be reached.  

Laura Cole, a local who helped John raise money to reopen the Fish Bar following a fire last year, tells Teddington Nub News: "John was extremely emotional with the outcome of the hearing, staying composed whilst others around him weren't."

Once John had a moment to himself, he "held his composure, but his relief was evident once we left the courtroom," continues Laura.

Jonathan Hulley (left), Laura Cole (right) and the community have supported John in getting the chippy reopened (credit: Laura Cole).

She adds: "This whole horrible experience has been taking its toll on John's health and you cannot underestimate the extreme mental and emotional trauma this journey takes an individual on."

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The Fish Bar owner thanks the community for "standing side by side with him both literally and in spirit," who admits helped him "cope" through the whole ordeal.

In particular, John wants to give thanks to the Conservative's Twickenham Parliamentary Spokesperson, Jonathan Hulley, who "enabled" him to secure the initial injunction and pointed him in the direction of specialist lawyers.

While The Teddington Fish Bar reopens, the legal process still continues and John will be doing "the best he can" for his community to "stay strong and continue the fight."

The Fish Bar in Kingston Road is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30am-2pm then 5pm-9pm and closed on Sunday and Monday.