Hawkes Bay restaurant poised to welcome community on anniversary of devastating fire [Video]

Off The Track restaurant near Havelock North was destroyed by a fire that ripped out its interior.

After a year of hard work, resilience, and even a brand-new restaurant in the interim, owners Chris Whyte and Fiona Le are excited to finally be back on track.

Now fully renovated, it will reopen for service next week on the first anniversary of the fire. Mitchell Hageman reports.

July 10 will be a big day for Chris Whyte and Fiona Le.

On that date last year Chris Whyte’s legs “gave way” when he was confronted with the popular restaurant he’d just bought being consumed by fire.

This year, July 10 will be happier. It’s the day Off the Track reopens.

“For me, it feels like coming home, and it’s looking like a nice home to move into,” Whyte told Hawke’s Bay Today.

Utilising the location’s natural beauty Le and Whyte have stuck …