Cricketers Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad say they're 'devastated' after a fire gutted an award-winning pub they own in the Nottinghamshire village of Upper Broughton. The pair, who own The Tap & Run in Main Road, say they are relieved there was no loss of life - apologising for any distress caused to villagers.
The fire broke out at the popular country pub just before 4am on Saturday, June 11, with eight fire crews from Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire called to the scene at the peak of the incident. Former seamer Gurney, who used to play for Nottinghamshire, owns the pub with fellow pro Broad, who is currently playing in England's second test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Mr Gurney told Nottinghamshire Live: "We are obviously devastated but relieved that there was no loss of life. We are so sorry that we will be unable to honour any bookings for the foreseeable future and sorry for any distress that the fire has caused to villagers. We will keep everyone updated on social media in the coming days and weeks."
Read more: Statement over huge fire that destroyed roof of stars' Nottinghamshire pub
Broad and Gurney launched the Cat and Wickets Pub Company in 2016 along with friend and experienced pub manager Dan Cramp. The pub was formerly known as The Golden Fleece, which had been closed for two years prior to the Cat and Wickets taking it on - it reopened as the Tap & Run gastropub in September 2018.
The pub was taped off by the fire service with the roof completely gutted by the flames. Villagers said they loved the pub, which is extremely popular with locals and visitors alike and often completely booked up at weekends. They also said that Broad and Gurney had turned the fortunes of the pub around.
Kirit Chauham, who has lived in the village for the past six years, said: "We woke up and knew something wasn’t quite right as we had no water, that was at around 5.30am. We looked on Twitter and then found out what was happening. It’s a nice pub, it’s going to be a real shame as it will set it back probably a year at least, to be honest.
"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 [Broad and Gurney] came it was quite run down and they have really turned it around. It’s a real shame."
Ben Rookes, who lives only a few meters away from the pub, said: "My wife looked at the village WhatsApp, that’s how I found out about it. I remember hearing something between 3am and 4am - it was like a tapping sound.
"I think it was the fire crews getting the water from the road. It is devastating, to be honest, for everybody. The pub is doing brilliantly, it’s always busy, you struggle to get in on weekends. It’s really become part of the community now. It’s devastating for the guys. It’s one of the best pubs in Nottinghamshire and to have it in the village is amazing."
Janet Newbury, 84, was told about the fire on Saturday morning. She said: "It’s terrible. I don’t live in the village but I have family who do. We go in quite a lot - it’s very popular. No-one can get through Main Street now, they’ve blocked it all off."
The pub is located on the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire border, near Melton Mowbray. Firefighters have advised the public to avoid the area if possible and asked local residents to keep doors and windows closed if their properties were affected by the smoke.
Speaking earlier at the scene, Jonathan Wilson, station manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We were mobilised to this building fire and we had eight appliances here and an aerial ladder platform. Swift action by the crews has contained the fire to the building but the building is quite badly damaged.
"We are working to dampen it down and will probably be here doing that for the next couple of hours at least. There was not believed to be anybody inside the building and the fire was contained to the building itself. Crews from Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire together have been working to deal with it.
"We are going to concentrate on putting the fire out - we are having a structural engineer have a look at the building as well to see if it is structurally safe, then there will be an investigation."
In the most recent update from the fire service just before 9.30am, officials said Main Road remained closed, with two fire engines and an aerial ladder platform at the scene.
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