The manager of a bar in Wickford, Essex, set a great example on fire procedure for pub staff nationwide when he evacuated 180 customers minutes before the building burst into flames, collapsing the roof.
Alistair Burrell averted a disaster by clearing Bar Plazma after smelling burning on Friday October 7. Although he checked the building and failed to find anything, Mr Burrell wisely chose to get everyone out.
Together with 15 other staff, he organised the evacuation. Because of his quick thinking, everyone escaped without injury.
Mr Burrell said: "It was all quite surreal, but once the evacuation started, it all went very smoothly and that comes down to all the training we have done.
"The shock and horror sank in after the roof collapsed, but I want to thank my team for staying calm and collected."
Del Rees, a Bar Plazma regular who escaped from the blaze, said: "We were ordered to cross the road by the staff after getting out. We saw a flicker of orange in one of the upstairs windows and soon the whole building had been engulfed.
"The staff were excellent in making sure there were no injuries. To get 180 people out when there's talking and loud music was great work so a big thank you is due."
The bar's owner, Douglas Quirk, heaped praise on his staff and said the evacuation was the result of regular training drills. "The praise coming from the police and the fire brigade speaks for itself," he said, "and I would like to say to all the licensees in the country doing health and safety training that it does work."
However, the blaze, caused by an electrical fault, is also a bitter blow. Bar Plazma is Mr Quirk's only pub and had just completed a £150,000 refit. "It's now in the hands of the insurance company," Mr Quirk said. "They are talking about nine to ten months until we can open again.
"It's so aggravating, but more than anything I'm proud of my staff's incredible effort in avoiding what could have been a terrible disaster."