Ellesmere pub landlords promise to bounce back after blaze
Landlords at a popular pub have promised to return bigger and better than ever after a fire ripped through its kitchen this week.
Staff at The Red Lion in Ellesmere have also thanked the community for their support and praised the firefighters who dealt with the blaze on Monday.
Fire crews and emergency services were called after a fire broke out in the kitchen of the pub and hotel on Church Street, just up from The Mere.
An air ambulance was called, but did not land, and one man was treated for smoke inhalation, while both the kitchen and and floor above were damaged by flames and smoke.
It is hoped the pub will be open next week, and landlords Lois Lagoyianni and Simon Metcalfe took to social media to thank the local community for their support.
The pair said: “The support from our community has been beyond humbling. We have had a fire incident involving the kitchen that has caused some smoke damage that will be dealt with.
“Until then we have closed our doors for a very short while. We are very actively organising the repairs needed to re-open.”
The pair heaped praise on Ellesmere Fire Service and also thanked paramedics, the air ambulance and the pub's own staff for their help.
They added: “It was very bizarre and difficult at times watching people we know taking themselves in a risky environment to ensure the safety of everyone else.
“We did not realise until yesterday from seeing it first hand what they deal with daily. Sometimes more than once a day. You are real life heroes and you are worth your weight in gold. We are eternally grateful to each and every one of you.
“Secondly we would like to thank the extremely thoughtful Red Lion staff.
"They were in the front line full of worry and first ones in to help deal with general support and issues that we couldn’t of dealt with on our own so fast and efficiently.
“Thirdly we would like to thank Julie Edwards from the petrol station. She was a key person in re-directing traffic, giving water and pop to the fire crews and generally helping calm the chaos. You are a legend. And also thanks to Martin Ford.”
The pub is set to host a hog roast in their beer garden on Saturday May 26 and the landlords promised to keep customers up to date on progress.
They finally added: “The Red Lion will be back bigger and better than ever.”
