20 Aug 2012
Following a fire in early August that caused £200,000 of damage, a busy Devon pub may be out of business until October.
The Plymouth Herald reported that the fire at the Miners Arms, in Hemerdon Village near Plympton, was discovered when a barman arrived at the pub on the morning of August 9 and found smoke and soot throughout the premises.
Firefighters were then called to the pub to make sure the site was safe.
Luckily the pub’s live-in landlord was away on holiday at the time of the fire, which is believed to have started in a kitchen refrigeration unit.
Business partner Kelvin Edwards told the paper that due to the blaze the pub has had to close temporarily and will miss out on its busiest trading period.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 all commercial properties in England and Wales, including pubs, have to undergo a ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment.
If this is judged to have been carried out insufficiently the ‘Responsible Person’ can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.
Copyright Press Association 2012