Manchester Christmas Markets favourite Oi Dumplings issues plea after new restaurant hit by devastating fire

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Oi Dumplings, a firm favourite independent business at the Manchester Christmas Markets, has been left devastated after a fire destroyed their new restaurant.

The beloved Vietnamese business only opened its first proper restaurant of its own in July of this year, a beautiful, terracotta-painted neighbourhood spot in the picturesque village of Marsden.

Prior to that, they had been trading from a tiny cabin with no indoor seating and doing the rounds of street food events, including the Manchester Christmas Markets.

But earlier this week, Oi Dumplings’ stunning little restaurant totally ‘perished’ in a freak fire, triggering a huge outpouring of grief and support from the local community and friends of the business (us included).

The fire was started in their brand-new, switched-off tumble dryer and has devastated the space they so carefully designed and built.

Oi Dumplings is now going through the lengthy process of insurance before they can begin to rebuild – but with the Manchester Christmas Markets barely two weeks away, they’ve issued a plea for help.

Founders Mollie Power and Maisie Davies now desperately need somewhere to prep for the markets, a key income stream for any small independent.

The beautiful Oi Dumplings restaurant in Marsden, opened in July, has been devastated by a fire. Credit: Instagram

They’re seeking a temporary space where they can do the pain-staking work of making their own handmade dumplings.

Oi Dumplings said ‘we’re not giving up’, adding: “The markets played a massive part in funding our restaurant, and we hope that it will play its future role in rebuilding our restaurant.”

They also quipped: “In times of darkness we are looking for the light and luckily enough for us, there’s a great big massive hole in the roof of the building.

“So there we go, we will move and do the only thing we can right now. Steam some award winning dumplings for the Manchester Christmas Markets.”

Their full statement is below and if you can help them get back on their feet, you can message them on Instagram HERE.

Oi Dumplings’ statement after fire

Food at Oi Dumplings in Marsden. Credit: The Manc Group

I remember when we started ‘Oi’ with nothing. We were both teaching online and doing random delivery jobs for Amazon during the pandemic. We spent £120 on ingredients and packaging. We used the ice packs and delivery bags that we had from Amazon to deliver our little dumplings around Yorkshire and Manchester. We were so worried we wouldn’t get that money back. When we posted about our new venture online, embarrassment and fear crept in. I remember crying in bed thinking ‘What have we done? No one is going to buy these dumplings from a random person online.’ How wrong we were. I guess you don’t know till you try. 

Fast forward four years, a series of fortunate events, countless hours and hard work. We moved from Gazebo, to the Cabin, to Manchester Christmas Markets.

After four years of working our asses off, we found ourselves in a position where we could buy our first business and renovate a space. It was so amazing to see our vision come alive and even better that we would be INSIDE. How lucky. How blessed. How glorious. But as we all know, life is a series of tests. And my god it is testing us. Riding high in April, shot down in May.

We then faced problem after problem. Planning, licensing, court hearings. And now the pièce de résistance. A fire – caused by spontaneous combustion in the tumble dryer. Guys, never trust your dryer, ours was brand new and turned off.

And so we are left with a perished establishment. What isn’t burnt, is damaged by smoke and water. It was lucky that the fire was caught when it was. To the team of brave professionals that put the fire out, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

Over the past few days we have been inundated with messages from our customers, friends and family. We have taken the time to read every single one. Words of encouragement and offers to lend a helping hand in any way possible. How beautiful. The community we surround ourselves with is truly and utterly astonishing. So what can we do now? 

The only thing we can focus on now is the courage to move forward whilst our premises are in the hands of our insurers. We have the Manchester Christmas Markets around the corner and we are in urgent need of a temporary space to prep in, and we need your help to find that space. The team at Manchester Markets have kindly delayed our final payment to give us room to replace the equipment that perished in the fire. The markets played a massive part in funding our restaurant, and we hope that it will play its future role in rebuilding our restaurant. We’re not giving up. In times of darkness we are looking for the light and luckily enough for us, there’s a great big massive hole in the roof of the building. So there we go, we will move and do the only thing we can right now. Steam some award winning dumplings for the Manchester Christmas Markets.

Please, please, please share this post and help us find our temporary home?!

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Featured image: The Manc Group