EVERYTHING is in 'plaice' for one of Bicester's oldest chippies to reopen next month after a fire completely gutted the Golden Kitchen.

Four months ago, the Kingsley Road fish and chip shop closed after a kitchen fire tore through it causing nearly £100,000 worth of damage.

While the shop is run by Daniel Menezef, it is owned by Androulla Georgiou, 71, who was left devastated at seeing it destroyed after 43 years in charge.

Her daughter Anna Georgiou said: "It was about 5.30pm so our busiest time and the fire started somewhere you couldn’t see.

"It was absolutely heaving with customers and the queue was going round twice so staff at the time saw it all happen. Obviously once they realised how bad it was their first intentions was to get everybody out.

"When they investigated they found that it was the accumulation of gases which had built up and ignited a spark close to oil. It took up in an area that wasn’t visual and before they knew it it was too big to put it out.

"It was obviously really traumatic for our lease-holder Daniel and my mum was just really upset, she is 71-years-old and has had the shop since April 25, 1974.

"It is the oldest fish and chip shop in Bicester."

Staff were devastated the shop had to be closed for four months but after a long and stressful wait the Golden Kitchen is hoping to be back in business in the first week of March.

The installation of the fryers next week will mark one of the final parts of the overhaul, with the owners and lease holders are looking forward to reopening the doors.

Ms Georgiou said: "For Daniel especially he has been worried about the not knowing when we can get back in and open. He and his wife have just had a baby as well so they have been anxious to get back to it.

"There is the worry about loss of business and we hope that our loyal customers will come back and see the brand new look.

"For my mum its been a massive headache with insurance and the loss of rent - four months is a long time."

The shop is said to have a brand new look and staff hope it will be able to open in the first week of March.

The owners have apologised to its customers for the delay in getting back to business but hope to attract customers back to an a new and improved fish and chip shop.