MasterChef winner facing £4,000 bill after thugs used bench to try and break into restaurant

Winner of MasterChef 2015 Simon Wood has been left with a £4,000 bill after two men used a bench as a battering ram to try and force entry to his Manchester restaurant.

CCTV from Wood restaurant, in the city's Jack Rosenthal Street, showed the two men loitering outside the restaurant for about half an hour early on Monday morning.

Just before 6am they can be seen picking up a bench and repeatedly driving it into the glass doors.

Restaurant owner Wood told The Caterer: "They were there for about 30 minutes, it was a long time considering what they were doing. After about 30 minutes they used the bench as a battering ram. They did not get through the door, I think they must have been disturbed, but they gave it a fair go.

"All the tracking is dented, it's a £4,000 door that will need to be replaced.

"It's a huge amount for any restaurant to get a £4,000 bill drop out of the sky. That's £4,000 you could have spent on your team, on training, on equipment on ingredients. £4,000 is a big dent in anyone's budget."

Wood said the restaurant has been able to remain open, but a fire marshal has had to be put in place while the door is out of action.

Wood will open his second restaurant in the new Hotel Indigo in Chester in Spring 2019.

MasterChef winner Simon Wood to open restaurant in Manchester>>

Masterchef champion Simon Wood to open second restaurant in Chester>>

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