Two fires at derelict pubs just streets apart in Croydon are being treated as suspicious, the Met Police has said.
Firefighters were called to seperate incidents at the former pubs, the Windmill and the Drum and Monkey, on Thursday morning.
According to reports, the Windmill was up for sale at £1.5million in 2021, while the Drum and Monkey was under offer at £650,000.
Two fires broke out this morning in Croydon @CroydonGuardian @mysouthldn pic.twitter.com/XIcHju4blU
— Kris Rybak (@RybakKris) August 31, 2023
The Met said in a statement: “The fires are being treated as suspicious and a joint investigation is being led between the Met and the London Fire Brigade.
“There have been no reports of injuries on any of the scenes. At this early stage there have been no arrests.”
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was first called to a blaze at at the Windmill, in St James’s Road at around 5.44am.
Approximately 60 firefighters responded to the fire where the roof of the property was partly alight.
One of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used as a water tower to tackle the fire from above.
The second fire, at Drum & Monkey just 200 yards away on Gloucester Road, was reported at 6.24am.
Although there were no reports of injuries, the first and second floors were destroyed. Six fire crews and 40 firefighters attended the incident.
The fires have since been brought under control and are now being investigated, the LFB said.
