A MILLER and Carter restaurant sunk at a busy shopping centre today, dramatic pictures show.
The steak house restaurant is a converted paddle steamer boat but is now leaning stern first in the water.
Everyone was safely evacuated from the boat at Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock, Essex today.
The fire service confirmed there is no risk to life so the situation is being controlled by the owners.
But the reason for the popular steak house sinking remains unclear.
It has thrown into chaos families' Christmas plans who were set to eat there on Sunday.
One customer wrote online: "Looks like my family meal is cancelled!"
Another person wrote: "Going down like the Titanic."
One man tweeted: "Horrible to see this happening to one of my favourite places to eat. Hope everyone got off OK."
While one woman complained that now her plans for Christmas Day were ruined.
She wrote: "I have a photo suggesting the Miller and Carter paddle steamer at Lakeside, Thurrock has sunk! Please can you confirm so we can make other arrangements for Christmas Day!"
Miller and Carter said its team was "working hard" to help customers.
In a Facebook post, the restaurant wrote: "Please do not try and call Miller and Carter Lakeside at this time as they are working hard to try and rectify this situation."
It added: "We will contact every guest as soon as possible, for safety reasons we are unable to access our restaurant to answer any phone calls.
"Management will be calling all guests with upcoming bookings.
"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused."
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said that "everyone was safely evacuated" from the restaurant.
A spokesman said: "We were informed of the incident, but as no one was onboard (everyone was safely evacuated) there was no life risk and therefore we were not required to attend.
"The incident is being dealt with by the site owners."
The paddle steamer has been at Lakeside for years. Miller and Carter bought and refurbished it to open as a restaurant in 2019.
Thousands of shoppers have been heading to Lakeside in the days leading up to Christmas.
The shopping centre is one of Britain's busiest and most popular, with more than 250 shops and places to eat.
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