STAFF at a city fish and chip shop have explained how they are feeling the effects of the heatwave as temperatures rise in the kitchen.
Hooked in Broadway Grove, Worcester, has had to take extra measures to cope with the extreme weather, affecting both stock and staff.
Worcester is currently facing a red weather warning over extreme heats, with a red warning also in place for tomorrow (Thursday, June 25).
The temperature is currently predicted to be even hotter than today with increased sweltering heat in the city.
Louka Nicodemou, co-owner and chef at the restaurant, explained that staff are more careful with the stock with unpredictable custom as people stay out of the heat.
“We have to be really controlled with the stock,” he explained.
“We can’t keep as much, can’t prepare as many potatoes and salads, we’ve had to throw stuff out.
“We have to be really careful with how much we prepare to cook.
“It’s quieter and things go bad quicker, so it’s harder to predict the customers you’re going to have.”
‘We tell staff to take it easy’
Mr Nicodemou added that in order to ensure staff are comfortable when working they have been offered time off and the store has a stock of cold drinks and ice lollies to cool them down.
“The heat is unbelievable at the minute,” he said. “We have got every fan possible on.
“It’s tough but we tell all the staff to take it really easy, not to do any extra jobs.
“We have got ice lollies and cold drinks for staff to top up. We tell them to take a back seat when it’s like this and just serve customers.
“We give options to staff to not come in. We just try to do everything we can to cater to everyone.”
Mr Nicodemou has also been manning the kebab machine to ensure he deals with the increased heat rather than them.
Are Hooked open during the heatwave?
At the time of writing, Hooked is planning to remain open tomorrow but Mr Nicodemou explained that could change depending on whether the chippy breaks even today (Wednesday, June 24).
“We’re not even breaking even at the minute but we don’t want to close,” he explained. “We don’t want to take wages off staff.
“There is no positive about it, not a single positive.”