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10
Jun
What next for Knaresborough pub devastated by fire?
The owner of a pub near Knaresborough which was gutted following a fire says it is evaluating options for the site.
Firefighters from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Acomb, Tadcaster, Ripon and Wetherby were called to the Cricketers pub on Thistle Hill in Calcutt at 4.02am on April 1 after fire ripped through the building.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had caused "100% damage" to the building, which destroyed the roof. Police are treating the incident as suspected arson.
The Stray Ferret asked Marston’s, which owns the pub, whether it had carried out any evaluations of the site two months on from the fire and whether it had arrived at a decision on what to do.
A spokesperson for Marston's said:
The damage to the pub was extensive and will require significant rebuilding. We have partially removed the gable walls to make the structure safe. It has been fenced off for safety and security.
We are currently evaluating the options for the site; this will include rebuild or sale.
At the time of the fire, residents spoke to the Stray Ferret about about their sense of loss for a pub that had long stood as a landmark at the junction where Forest Moor Road meets Thistle Hill.
The aerial ladder platform in action during the blaze. Pic: Gene Clifton.
Formerly the Union, it was refurbished in 2019 and re-opened as The Cricketers, earning a 4/5 rating on Tripadvisor and positive reviews for its food, decor, cleanliness and welcome.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
However, North Yorkshire Police said it is believed the blaze was started deliberately.
The force arrested a woman was arrested on suspicion of arson. She was released on conditional bail on April 2.
A police spokesperson told the Stray Ferret that no charges have been issued and enquiries into the suspected arson were ongoing.
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