A SEAFRONT institution which almost had to close for good after being flooded twice in as many years should rise again after Christmas, its owner has said.

Ye Olde Chippy sustained thousands of pounds’ damage when flooded during heavy rainfall in September. That came a little more than a year after floods had devastated the outlet, which has been on Southend’s Marine Parade for more than 30 years.

Owner George Zinonos, 47, said that after months of hard work, the fish and chip shop is on its way to an early 2015 opening.

He said: “We weren’t hit so hard this year in terms of cost because of the precautions we took last time, but it has been more work for us.

“We haven’t had any help from the council, though. It’s only because we’ve been here 30-odd years that we’ve survived. If we were a new business this would have finished us. But because people know the name, they come back. With the rates we pay, we expect some protection.”