Uncertainty surrounds the future of a Harrogate district village pub which suffered its second fire in three years over the summer.
The Tiger Inn in Coneythorpe, north of Knaresborough, is believed not to have been renovated since the blaze and its tenants, Ian and Barbara Gill, are understood to have left the property permanently.
The pub’s phone number directs customers to its website, which features a pop-up box stating: “Due to an extensive fire in our kitchens, we are not open at this time”. That redirects visitors to a Facebook link that no longer works.
The property lies empty, but according to sources in the village, cleaners have been in and the pub is checked on periodically.
When the Stray Ferret visited this week to try to find out what was happening, one person, who asked not to be named, said:
“No-one in the village knows what’s going on. Nobody’s told us anything. It’s such a shame, because the pub’s the hub of the village and we miss it, especially coming up to Christmas.”
It is not known why the tenants have left. Barbara Gill is the sole director of MGG Developments Co Ltd, which trades as The Tiger Inn, and the company’s latest accounts filed on June 15, 2023, paint a picture of a business with a future.
It is referred to as a going concern “despite suffering a fire to the business premises during the previous year which caused extensive damage”. It continues:
“This is fully subjected to an insurance claim which is not expected to have any long-term financial implications to the company.”
Read more:
- Village pub near Knaresborough suffers second fire in three years
- Coneythorpe pub rises from ashes to reopen after 11 months
- Villagers left devastated after fire at Coneythorpe pub
Jon West, a Coneythorpe resident who sits on Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Clareton Parish Council, told the Stray Ferret:
“The only fact I can share with you is that the Tiger Inn is shut and for an unknown period. All other information I have is hearsay or guesswork which is not mine to share.”
The Tiger Inn suffered its first fire in November 2020, just four months after reopening from the national covid lockdown. The blaze started in the kitchen and lasted for six hours, causing widespread damage.
It reopened after renovation and refurbishment in October 2021, and the Gills marked the occasion by presenting a cheque for £5,000 to the Fire Fighters Charity in thanks for the efforts of the fire crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb who put out the blaze.
But less than a year later, firefighters were again called to the pub, after an overheating ice machine caused a second devastating fire.
Village pub near Knaresborough suffers second fire in three yearsA village pub near Knaresborough has suffered a second fire in less than three years.
Firefighters were called to the Tiger Inn at Coneythorpe at 6am this morning.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has yet to provide any details of the incident but eye witnesses have told the Stray Ferret nobody is believed to have been injured.
The back of the pub is believed to have been most badly damaged.
The Harrogate Bus Company tweeted at 8.24am to say the 21 bus had been diverted because of the incident.
However, a villager said all roads had now reopened but firefighters remained at the scene.
The pub is not expected to be open today.
We will provide more details when they are available.
Previous fire
Today’s fire appears to be far less devastating than the one that gutted the Tiger Inn in November 2020.
Fire crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb spent six hours battling the blaze, and the pub underwent a major refurbishment before reopening 11 months later.
Firefighters tackling the blaze at the Tiger Inn in 2020.
When the pub reopened, owners Ian and Barbara Gill donated £5,000 to the Firefighter’s Charity as a thank-you.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said at the time of the blaze that fire broke out in the pub’s kitchen and the cause was believed to be accidental.
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Long-term roadworks to affect villages near Knaresborough
Roadworks are to cause major disruption to two villages near Knaresborough for several weeks at the start of next year.
Utilities company Power On is to install power cables for a 600,000 square feet business park near Flaxby called Harrogate 47 close to junction 47 of the A1(M). The park could support 2,000 jobs.
The project is expected to last six months and involve five weeks of road closures, starting on January 9, in Flaxby and Coneythorpe.
Power On said in a statement it had conducted “extensive consultation” to minimise disruption.
Work will start on York Road in Flaxby and continue onto Shortsill Lane and Moor Lane. It will take place from January 9 to 28 before recommencing on February 22 until March 14.
Diversions will be in place to minimise disruption.
Power On said in a statement it was “committed to delivering essential works whilst ensuring minimal disruption to local residence and the community”. It added:
“We have been able to avoid further closures by allowing traffic to flow subject to reduced weight limits. Alternative transport for schools will be provided by North Yorkshire County Council.
“We have been working with the local parish council who have assisted in coordinating the works. Road closure signs will include alternate routes to any local businesses affected with advanced warning signs posted in late December.
“The works are to be completed during the winter months, to minimise impact. At the request of the Tiger Inn and the parish council, it was agreed that work will be suspended during potentially busier periods such as Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, and Easter weekend.”
The company added residents affected by the road closures “will be able to access via the diversion routes which have been previously agreed and signposted”.
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Coneythorpe pub devastated by fire plans August reopening
A Coneythorpe pub devastated by fire a month before Christmas looks set to reopen in summer.
Fire crews battled for six hours to control the blaze at the Tiger Inn in November.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said the cause was believed to be accidental and broke out in the pub’s kitchen, which had only been fitted the previous January.
Neighbours said they were devastated by the fire and described the pub as a pillar of the community.
Read more:
Now, the owners of the Tiger Inn have said they are eyeing an August reopening and confirmed that repair works are underway.
Firefighters tackle the blaze at the Tiger Inn, Coneythorpe, back in November.
A post on the Tiger Inn Facebook page said:
Villagers left devastated after fire at Coneythorpe pub“The covid pandemic has been difficult for everyone and to have a serious fire on top of it was the icing on the cake so to speak.
“However we now have some excellent news for you all. We have finally got the go ahead from our insurance company and re-building works have started.
“Our anticipated re-opening will be early August when Team Tiger will be ready and waiting to welcome you all back in.
“We will try and keep you updated with progress as we go along but in the meantime stay safe.”
Neighbours have been left devastated after a fire at a much-loved community pub in Coneythorpe last night.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the Tiger Inn at 5.04pm after a fire broke out in the pub’s kitchen, which had only been fitted in January.
Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb were called out to the blaze which lasted for six-hours. Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform, main jets, breathing apparatus and hose reels to tackle the incident.
Owners said the fire was accidental and that they will be aim to reopen the pub “as soon as we possibly can”.
But neighbours say they are devastated as the pub is a pillar of the community in the village.
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One resident, Carole Topham said she saw smoke coming from the building before calling the fire service.
She said:
“We saw billowing smoke at first and called the fire bridge who spent hours at the site.
“We are devastated for the owners, this is our community pub and we were looking forward to a Christmas get together.”
The damage after the fire, which broke out in the pub’s new kitchen.
Meanwhile, Karin Terry, another neighbour, said:
“The flames got bigger and bigger.
“We were very worried about a gas tank that was at the back of the building.”
The fire is a blow for the pub, which traditionally hosts a village Christmas party.
A member of the Gill family, which owns the pub, said they were “gutted” and had been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with the villagers.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“Obviously the family is devastated about it. We had 15 weeks of closed down and reopened on July 2 and was almost as busy before we went into lockdown.
“We will reopen as soon as we possibly can do. We have just been speaking to the fire fighters today, it was an accidental fire and we just want to get back to where we have been.
“We are a bit gutted this year because we do a village Christmas party where all the villagers get together. We were struggling with the lockdown and social distancing and how we were going to fit everyone in.
“There’s about 70 odd people who live in the village and they all tend to get in here, but that’s gone out of the window now. We will just see when we can get reopen better and stronger than ever.”