A NUMBER of restaurants and bars were left without power for two hours last night during what should have been their busiest period.

A NUMBER of restaurants and bars were left without power for two hours tonight during what should have been their busiest period.

EDF Energy Networks said 12 properties in St Nicholas Street, Ipswich, were affected by the shortage at around 5.40pm.

One of the buildings affected was the Galley Restaurant, owned by Ugur Vata.

He said: “It is very frustrating. As a result of the problems we have lost two parties - one of eleven and another of six. We are only a 54 cover restaurant so it is a lot.

“It's very annoying because it happened last Friday as well - about 10pm. We couldn't take any money from customers.

“At this time of year we cannot afford to lose business - especially with the current economic climate.”

Mr Vata said once engineers arrived they worked quickly but he had trouble getting through to EDF Energy's hotline to register the problem.

“I couldn't get an answer and had to leave a recorded message,” he said.

A spokesman for EDF Energy said 12 customers went off supply at 5.42 pm in the St Nicholas Street area of Ipswich due to a blown fuse.

Power was restored to the final customers at 7.45pm after engineers replaced the fuse, he said.

“EDF Energy Networks would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to those customers off supply,” he added.