A devastating fire forced a much loved pub to close on one of its busiest nights of the year. The fire at The Railway in Bromley Cross, Bolton, broke out yesterday afternoon (December 30) while the boozer was 'packed' with customers.
Customers were evacuated and the blaze, which started in a tumble dryer, has caused extensive damage to the first floor. Landlord Mike Hales paid tribute to firefighters for containing the blaze and limiting the damage to the building.
Mike feared the pub would also be forced to remain closed on New Year's Eve, but staff have worked around the clock on a clean-up operation and it will re-open for drinks only from 3pm today. Now Mike is awaiting more information from his insurers to determine how long it will take to fully repair the building.
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"It has completely burnt out the first floor of the pub," Mike told the Manchester Evening News . "The fire brigade arrived within minutes but it went up pretty fast.
"We were packed, the pub was full. We evacuated everybody."
Mike, who has run the Railway for four-and-a-half years, explained that the first floor of the boozer is used to store food, and houses fridges and preparation areas. "The fire brigade were very good," he said. "Hats off to those guys, they were phenomenal really.
"It could have been a lot worse. They arrived in minutes. Their professionalism saved the whole building really."
After the Covid lockdown shut boozers and the recent spikes in energy costs, Mike has been left counting the cost of another disaster to hit the pub. "Last night would have been one of our busiest nights of the year, other than tonight," he said.
"Behind the scenes I'm fighting everything, gas, electric, and then this happens. What else can happen? All the staff and myself are gutted. It's just heartbreaking.
"With all the crap we've been through in the last few years, and then something like this happening, at this time of the year." A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 3.08pm on Friday 30 December 2022 three fire engines from Bolton and Bolton North fire stations attended a fire at a commercial property on Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton.
"Firefighters used two breathing apparatus, one hose reel and a positive pressure ventilation unit to extinguish the fire. Crews were in attendance for approximately one hour."
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