A BELOVED restaurant which has been closed for several weeks is now back open to the delight of customers. 

The Gazette reported at the start of August that Wimpy, in High Street, had been given a 'forfeiture notice' and was closed for business.

A forfeiture notice is when the landlord of a building regains possession from a tenant.

Chris Woolfenden, Wimpy’s General Manager, confirmed the completion of lease negotiations with the landlord of the property meant it had been given the green light to reopen.

Closed - an image of Wimpy at the start of AugustClosed - an image of Wimpy at the start of August (Image: Newsquest)

The Wimpy reopened on Monday.

Colchester resident Lucy visited the city centre today and is delighted it is up and running again.

She said: “I first started going to Wimpy when it was in Head Street in the 1970s, when I first started work, we used to go there a lot.

“I was really disappointed when it left Colchester for several years, I was then pleased it came back to the High Street.

Happy customers - (right to left) Colchester resident Lucy and another customerHappy customers - (right to left) Colchester resident Lucy and another customer (Image: Newsquest)

“I saw on Facebook recently that it was closed again and I thought that was sad.

“I heard it had reopened and I’m very pleased to see that.

“I thought it was going to close for good, I’m really pleased to see it open.”

Jim Bruce, 84, of Colchester, happened to pop into the restaurant today.

He said "To be honest, it has got stuff in here I don’t normally get, but I am happy to see a business like this open.

Open - the view from a Wimpy boothOpen - the view from a Wimpy booth (Image: Newsquest)

“I also like the desserts here such as Eton mess

"It is great to see Wimpy open."

For franchisee Raj Bhangal, whose family has owned the Wimpy Colchester franchise for the last two decades, being back behind the counter is exactly where he wants to be.

He said: “We missed our many customers, and we know they missed us too.

“It’s great to see all our regulars again and to meet new customers too, Our Wimpy is a such a keystone of the High Street that it’s wonderful to be back.”

Wimpy is an American-themed diner known for its hamburgers, breakfasts, and more.

The Colchester branch opened in the High Street back in 1984 but it first came to the city in the 1970s.