A Nantwich pub landlady revealed how they received “the dreaded call” to say their business was on fire.
Lorraine and Martin Chapman were on a walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales when their Red Cow pub on Beam Street went up in smoke.
The horrified couple then spent several hours stuck in motorway traffic trying to get back to Nantwich not knowing how bad the blaze was.
“I felt sick, it was horrible,” said Lorraine, who lives above the pub with Martin and their two teenage children.
“Our assistant manager and the cleaner were the only ones in the building and they raised the alarm.
“We packed the car as fast as we could, but when we were driving back we got stuck in traffic.
“No one was allowed in the pub for 4 or 5 hours so we were completely in the dark as to how bad it was. It was the longest and worst journey of my life.”
It’s believed the blaze started in a cleaning cupboard on the ground floor due to an electrical fault, but fire officers are still investigating the exact cause.
The pub is now closed as it undergoes a major refit. The fire badly damaged the hallway, bar area and toilet block.
“We aim to be back open in time for the Jazz Festival at Easter,” Lorraine added.
“Damage was quite extensive so we are having a complete facelift, new carpets, curtains, new toilets, the lot.
“It’s been traumatic, but at least no one was injured and the pub will look good when the work is done.”
Lorraine also praised local fire crews from Nantwich who were on the scene in minutes on February 22.
“They were on scene in less than eight minutes and were brilliant,” she added.
“It’s a good job because the build up of heat was so much if they had been any longer they say the damage could have been a lot worse.
“A few of the guys drink in here, too… I just don’t think they wanted to lose their local!”
Just a week before the blaze, Lorraine and Martin had celebrated six successful years as landlords of the venue.
“We’ve been in the industry all our working lives,” she added.
“There have been plenty of minor incidents along the way, but nothing on this scale!”
(pics courtesy of Jonathan White and Darren McDean)
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