Guildford shop declares 'everything is a mess' as 'dangerous' leak closes path

The footpath and closed shops
-Credit: (Image: Victoria Shipp)


A footpath in the centre of Guildford has been closed ‘as a public safety measure’ after a leak forced a row of shops and cafes to close.

The issues started at the beginning of September when stores within Dolphin House at the end of North Street were forced to close after heavy rain. The building is home to Dreams, Sushi Nara and Creams which had to evacuate at the start of the month.

Yong Cho, who is part of Sushi Nara, told SurreyLive: “On September 5th we were told to evacuate the restaurant. From the ceiling all the water was leaking. The ceiling was falling down. All the shops are the same.” Young Cho continued: “It is frustrating we cannot do anything. Everything is a mess. There is no electricity because of the leak. We cannot use our food at all.”

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The outside of the shops
The shops are all part of one building which has been impacted by the leak -Credit:Victoria Shipp

Building managers Regency Real Estate told SurreyLive that leak had come from the car park that sits above the shops. The company says there has been work ongoing there since the summer. They said there have been "anomalies" with the car park deck and that an unusually wet summer has led to a water leak into the stores. Entry to the car park is also shut.

Now the footpath along the stores has been closed by Surrey County Council. Nearby, popular restuarant, Turtle Bay, is also closed. A notice on the door of Turtle Bay reads “We are sad to say that we have experienced flooding and have had to close the restaurant. We are working on getting the restaurant open as soon as we possibly can. We can’t wait to be back open and see you again soon. For more updates please visit out website” They previously said it would shut for at least 2 weeks.

The blocked footpath now means Dreams, Creams and Sushi Nara are inaccessible. Surrey County Council have listed the reason for the closure as a “dangerous roofing structure hanging over”.

Inside dreams
Debris within Dreams after the leak -Credit:Victoria Shipp

A barrier has been put up blocking the path from Creams to Dreams, stopping pedestrians from passing through. Water can be seen dripping through the overhanging roof especially after rain.

A notice from Surrey County Council posted on the barrier says traffic management measures have been placed “as a public safety measure.”. It adds: "Surrey County Council as Highway Authority have a statutory duty to assert and protect the rights of the public at large to the use and enjoyment of highway land. This includes our duty of keeping the Highway safe for public use.”

Pedestrians can still pass through the area by crossing the road and using the pavement on the other side of the street and the road is unaffected. It is not clear when the footpath or the shops will reopen.

Outside of Turtle Bay
While you can get to Turtle Bay the restaurant is still closed -Credit:Victoria Shipp

A Dreams spokesperson said: “We can confirm that sadly our Guildford store is closed for the foreseeable future due to a leak in the building. We are working with the landlord to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and have started work on refurbishments. We are currently unable to confirm a reopening date. In the meantime, we are directing local customers to our website or to visit our closest nearby store in Farnborough. We're sorry for any inconvenience this has caused."

Creams have posted a sign on the door explaining that a water and electricity fault means it will be shut until further notice. Nearby stores include Epsom, Camberley and Redhill.

A spokesperson for Regency Real Estate who manage the building said: “Project works to the car park and external rendering of Dolphin House, commenced in the summer and temporary measures were adopted to handle seasonal rainfall. Due to the discovery of unforeseen anomalies in the car park deck, combined with an unusually wet summer, this unfortunately contributed to water ingress into the retail units. This has resulted in the project timeline being extended.”

“We are actively addressing these challenges and remain committed to delivering a high-quality result. We appreciate the public's understanding as we navigate these unexpected conditions and work towards completing the project as swiftly as possible.”

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