LYNN's Maggie's restaurant - famously visited by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay - re-opens today after battling back from bankruptcy.
When officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) arrived unannounced at Maggie's restaurant, in Lynn's Saturday Market Place, it was a new nightmare for chef Nick Anderson, who had already been featured on Ramsay's popular Kitchen Nightmares show.

With spiralling debts which had to be paid within five days he and wife Susannah had no option but to close their doors to business and face the stark reality that their restaurant dream could be about to die.

But today, Maggie's will re-open, offering fresh seasonal dishes, after two loyal friends and customers formed a new company which will allow the restaurant to continue.

Mr Anderson told the Lynn News: "Following Gordon Ramsay being here it was quite clearly shown in the programme we were quite heavily in debt.

"The business took off tremendously well but with the best will in the world we could not clear that level of debt in a year.

"Earlier this year we got two very large utility bills out of the blue. Not wanting to be cut off we paid those bills but fell behind with HMRC."

When officers visited the restaurant on September 20 Mr Anderson was told a levy was being placed on the business and he had five days to pay, or goods would be taken to the value of the debt.

Despite a generous offer from the building's landlord, who offered the premises rent-free for two years, Mr Anderson said the restaurant closed on September 26 and they were forced to file for bankruptcy.

He added: "At that point our investors said they would be prepared to take the restaurant forward. They know it is a good business which is generating a profit. They want to see the business survive.

"The support from members of the public and our suppliers has been incredible, some of them have lost money and I feel awful about that, but these things happen.

"It has been a terrible shock, we just did not see it coming. To be declared bankrupt is a huge rigmarole, you have to be completely transparent.

"The belief is that had we not had this problem this year the business would have gone on to be very successful. From the new business po
int of view we are confident we can go on and build further."

Maggie's is looking forward to a busy weekend of trade and is now taking bookings for the busy Christmas period.

Mr Anderson was keen to stress it is very much business as usual with affordable food the focal point of his menu.

Mr Anderson endured the wrath of the infamous celebrity chef on the Channel 4 show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, which was broadcast in November last year.

Viewers watched as Ramsay berated Mr Anderson for his demeanour, his head-in-the-sand attitude, pretentious food and stuck-in-the-'90s menu.

But then he helped transform the business to a restaurant full of happy diners featuring a simpler, three-course menu based on fresh local produce.

When Ramsay returned unannounced five weeks later he was impressed to find a full and buzzing dining room and a great menu with interesting courses.