Fire-hit restaurant had been targeted before

8:50am Monday 14th January 2008

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THE upmarket Hampshire restaurant featured on a Gordon Ramsay TV show and destroyed by fire on Saturday was targeted by an arsonist two weeks ago, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The Granary in Titchfield was wrecked on Saturday morning just a fortnight after an unsuccessful attempt was made to burn it down.

"I have put my heart and soul into the business. My wife is also totally distraught, in pieces. We have no idea in any shape or form why this has happened."

Restuarant owner Nigel Nieddu

The owner has spoken of his shock that the restaurant is apparently being targeted.

Nigel Nieddu was on a business trip to Spain and heard about the second fire from his wife Sally.

Mr Nieddu, 39, who has owned The Granary for five years, told the Daily Echo on Saturday that he was "absolutely mortified" when he heard the news at about 8.30am on Saturday.

He said: "A friend who was with me, said I went completely white and nearly vomited. I was that terribly shocked."

Mr Nieddu is in Malaga over a court battle about a housing development that is set to take place tomorrow and cannot return to Britain until Thursday.

He added: "I have put my heart and soul into the business. My wife is also totally distraught, in pieces. We have no idea in any shape or form why this has happened."

He said his wife had tried to reach The Granary on Saturday but had been prevented from going too close because police were carrying out forensic tests.

Investigators were focusing on a hole in the glass door which may have been the seat of the fire.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Nieddu said about the earlier incident: "We may be jumping to conclusions saying the two are linked.

"I don't feel very good. We know what happened the first time because it is on CCTV. It shows someone throwing an incendiary device, like a molotov cocktail, because broken glass and rags were found.

"I have absolutely no idea who might be doing this. We have just been on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares so millions and millions of people are aware of the place. It is a little bit high profile at the moment.

"The police have suggested it is probably some lunatic that has got something against Gordon Ramsay or is a big fan of Gordon Ramsay. There's no-one we can think of who would do anything so drastic."

Last night a fire service control room operator confirmed: "It was subject to a suspected arson attack, a cause doubtful' attack, two weeks ago. The latest incident is still under investigation."

Just before Christmas The Granary appeared in the Bafta award-winning Channel 4 series Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.

The Michelin-starred chef attempted to help the restaurant reverse catastrophic losses of £4,000 a week.

Fire crews were called to the grade II listed restaurant in Whiteley Lane shortly before 6.15am on Saturday.

About 60 firefighters tackled the blaze, which extensively damaged the restaurant's interior.

Steve Pegler, group manager for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Crews began firefighting operations on the ground and first floor and worked their way up into the accommodation area, which was unoccupied.

"The fire was bottled up inside the building and conditions were quite severe, but we managed to stop it getting into the roof."