Blaze at historic pub

By Kathryn Smith, North Devon Journal

A MAJOR fire at the historic Hoops Inn at Horns Cross has destroyed part of the 13th century pub.

But owners Dee and Gerry Goodwin say they plan to re-open for business on Monday.

There were 101 firefighters from across three counties fighting the blaze on Monday night.

Chimney sparks had been spotted by a passer by and combined with the high winds, set the thatch alight.

Dee said: “We are absolutely devastated. This is not just our business, it is our home. It may take a while, but we plan for it to be even better.” Gerry added: “Words cannot describe it.”

A handful of guests and staff were evacuated when the fire started around 5pm on Monday. No one was hurt and Gerry said the fire drill worked perfectly. He added: “Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service did a wonderful, awe inspiring, mind blowing job. I have never seen anything like it. They were so professional, and so organised.

“We had spent a lot of the winter refurbishing and spent a lot of money on the pub, particularly in the room that was destroyed. But our basic plan is to open the restaurant and bars and 80% of the bedrooms on Monday.”

Between 40 to 50 bookings had to be cancelled on Tuesday morning, and guests due to stay Monday night had been transferred elsewhere. Gerry said: “We have had amazing support from the guests, staff and neighbours.”

The couple have owned the Hoops Inn, which is listed in the 2009 Michelin Guide to Eating Out in Pubs, for the past five years.

Fourteen fire engines from Devon, Somerset and Cornwall were at the scene, including foam units from Exmouth and Porlock which use a specialist technique to fight thatch fires. It was exactly three months ago that many of those crews were fighting to save the thatched George Hotel in Hatherleigh which was destroyed in a blaze two days before Christmas.

Bideford group commander Pete Newman was leading the Hoops Inn operation. He said: “When we arrived there was a well-developed fire in the thatched roof about a quarter of the way down the roof. We created a fire break halfway down and worked back towards the burning thatch to prevent it spreading. There were also crews inside and we managed to limit the fire damage to 25% of the roof.

“We also managed to move most of the contents out of the rooms to prevent further damage and some valuable furniture was saved.

“About 50% of the main thatched area was untouched, as was most of the pub downstairs. “We were cutting through the thatch, pulling it down and dropping it on the main road or to the back of the building which is quite labour intensive work.”

Mr Newman added: “I was very pleased with the way the operation went. The crews worked very well together and there was good liaison with other services. The initial actions of the fire break saved the rest of the building and thatch.”

While crews battled the Hoops Inn blaze, another 15 pumps were sent to a fire at the former Ambrosia factory in Lapford. Although resources in the area were said to be very stretched, it did not impact on the Hoops Inn operation.