A pub part-owned by the England cricketer Stuart Broad has had to close after being badly damaged by a “significant fire”.
Firefighters were called to the award-winning Tap & Run country pub in Upper Broughton, halfway between Nottingham and Melton Mowbray, at about 3.20am on Saturday. The blaze destroyed the first floor and roof of the pub, co-owned by Broad and former cricketer Harry Gurney.
Nottinghamshire fire and rescue service said the property had been severely damaged, with a fire in the roof still burning by mid-morning on Saturday. In a tweet shortly before 4.30am, the fire service said it had eight fire engines at the scene in Main Road, Upper Broughton.
The fire was so ferocious that people living nearby were told to keep their doors and windows closed. A statement on the pub’s website said the venue, situated halfway between Nottingham and Melton Mowbray, would not be trading “for the foreseeable future”.
It read: “We are devastated to announce that due to a significant fire in the early hours of 11 June the Tap & Run will not be trading for the foreseeable future.
“We are so sorry that we cannot honour our bookings or take any further bookings. We will keep everyone fully up to date on social media over the next few weeks.
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of support. And finally … we will be back! Watch this space.”
Update on Upper Broughton fire 👇
— Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (@nottsfire) June 11, 2022
🔸 Main Road is closed
🔸 We're still fighting a fire in the roof
🔸 Property is severely damaged
🔸 2 fire engines and our Aerial Ladder Platform still present
🔸 Please avoid the area pic.twitter.com/CTAckgSMCq
A post on the Tap & Run’s Twitter page read: “We are heartbroken to see our beautiful pub up in flames. Thankfully no one was hurt.”
The venue won Pub of the Year 2021 in Leicestershire and has previously featured on the Times list of the best places in Britain for Sunday lunch in 2022.
Broad, who also plays for Nottinghamshire, is currently playing on day two of the second Test at Trent Bridge for England against New Zealand.
His England teammate James Anderson told Test Match Special: “He’s just happy that no one’s hurt. It’s obviously gutting because it’s such a huge part of his and Harry’s lives.”
Kirit Chauham, who lives nearby, told the Leicester Mercury: “They might have to rebuild it and I feel very sorry for all the staff, too. It’s been a great community pub.
“Before they came, it was quite run down and they have really turned it around. It’s a real shame.”
