Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the fire-ravaged Tap & Run pub has reopened its doors looking better than ever. It's almost a year to the day since the village pub, owned by England cricketer Stuart Broad and former Nottinghamshire seamer Harry Gurney, was devastated in a huge blaze which could be seen for miles around.
The fire, in the early hours of June 11, destroyed the roof and left the first and second floors burnt out. Although the ground floor was intact, it was ruined by smoke and water used to put out the flames, so it had to be stripped back to brick.
Rebuilding the only pub in Upper Broughton, near the Leicestershire border, cost in the region of £1m. A mirror, which used to hang above the fireplace, was one of the few objects to survive and it now hangs above a cabinet used to store cutlery.
Keep up to date with all the latest food and drink news by signing up to our newsletter here
Now with the second innings under way there's no hint of the destruction caused and you'd never know if it wasn't for a couple of photographs on the wall, one with flames jumping out of the building and another showing the aftermath.
The first night showing off the new look was for villagers only. "We opened it for the locals because we wanted them to have the first sight of it," said Harry.
"It was emotional. We had a couple of villagers walk in and burst into tears. I'm quite a pragmatic kind of guy, but even I walked in and had a tear in my eye, it was amazing.
"It's better than before. I led the fit out the first time around in 2018 but this time my wife has done it and she's got better taste than me. She blew the budget but it does look great.
"There was never any doubt that the pub wouldn't be rebuilt. The only way that would have happened is if the insurers, for whatever reason, hadn't paid out but as soon as the insurers accepted liability then we were always going to reopen.
"It's been a long year but we are so chuffed to be back open. We have got a real loyal following and it's lovely to have them all back."
Broad, who is currently at Edgbaston for the first Ashes Test against Australia, has yet to see the pub since it reopened but he has been sent photographs.
The bar has been reconfigured. Instead of the L-shape it's straight along the wall creating more space for drinkers, while the toilets have been moved upstairs. The kitchen has doubled in size and the wall between the main pub and the garden room has been been replaced by glass window panes to create a lighter look.
The garden room with rattan furniture and plants, and outdoor patios are popular in summer, while the cosy area to the left of the bar, with a log burner for colder months and comfier seating is more likely to be where customers gravitate in winter. Upholstery patterned with sporting pursuits such as rowing, polo and, of course, cricket, adds to the 'country' feel of the pub.
The menu is remains largely the same with all the usual pub classics of burgers, pies, fish and chips, and steaks. A new lunchtime offering of ciabatta sandwiches has been launched.
The surroundings may be different but the faces remain the same. General manager Jack Whitehead, and assistant managers Anna Mooney and Laura Symington have returned. Following the fire they were given positions at the cricketers' other pub, The Griffin Inn, in Swithland, Leicestershire.
Anna said: "It's just lovely to be back. We had a couple of soft launches with all the regulars and locals and everyone is so happy we're back. The village has been extremely supportive. Although it's almost like a new building, it still feels so familiar as we've had so many staff return.
"I came down after the fire and looked through the building. It was horrible but it's nice to be back. In a way you don't forget about it but you do because it feels so new."
The pub is closed for a private party on Thursday, July 29 with 200-300 invited guests including cricketers and Nottingham Forest players. But earlier it was open for lunch, with around 50 booked in. Amongst them was Milly Kennedy, partner Anthony Rice, and one-year-old daughter Willow, who was born a week after the fire.
Milly, of Plumtree, said: "We came before the fire. It feels brighter, it's beautiful. Anthony woke me up to tell me about the fire as we know Jack, the general manager, quite well, because we work at a pub in Plumtree so we like neighbouring rival friends, and we messaged to check it was all alright.
"Everyone was saying March/April it would reopen but it's taken a bit longer than we thought, so we've been desperate to come." Anthony added: "It's a nice local to have, somewhere we can come with a nice environment and nice food. It was always a nice one to come to when it was open before."
The blaze was caused by tea towels in a tumble drier upstairs. Harry said: "It's a phenomenon called self heating tea towels which I've now learnt is more common in pubs, restaurant and spa hotels than I ever thought. It's residual grease in the towels, when they come out the tumble drier, which wasn't the case with ours as they were in the tumble drier, but you have situations where the cycle has finished and they can combust. They just get so hot, the grease helps to retain the heat and eventually they combust."
From now on the tea towels are being washed by a laundry company. Harry said: "There's definitely no tumble driers near the building, that's one thing, and during the rebuild to bring it up to modern standards for building regs, there is significant fire proofing throughout in all the loft spaces, every room upstairs is separated not only at floor level but up in the roof space.
"If ever was another fire it's much more likely to be contained within one room. Before there was quite an open space up there, so it was a sitting duck really."
