Diners were rushed from a popular Edinburgh eatery on Saturday evening after fire crews sped to the scene amid reports of a blaze in a wall cavity.
Eyewitnesses told how staff and customers were spotted outside the branch of TGI Friday’s on Castle Street just an hour before the chain restaurant was due to close following concerns over the safety of a light fitting.
Three fire engines and a height appliance attended the incident shortly after 9pm and remained on the busy street for more than an hour.
READ MORE: West Lothian mum disinherits daughter after she hit her with stiletto at wedding
It is understood a ‘small fire’ was extinguished during the operation but no one is thought to have been injured.
Patrons at a nearby pub said crews carried out further inspections at surrounding bars and restaurants before departing the scene amid fears damage may have spread to the cellars of neighbouring premises.
One told Edinburgh Live : “We were told the smoke alarm might go off in the pub and we would have to go outside.
“A couple of firemen came into the pub and when we went outside we could see everyone standing round.
“It looked like there were about four fire engines there and one of them had a crane attached.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We attended reports of an electrical fault relating to a small fire within a wall light at a premises on Castle Street in Edinburgh at around 9:17pm on Saturday, April 2.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
“Three regular appliances and a high reach appliance attended the incident.
“Crews remained on the scene until 10:22pm before leaving after it was deemed safe. There were no injuries.”
TGI Friday’s has been contacted for comment.
