Punters and pet save pub from fire disaster

An alert dog and a kind-hearted community ensured a disaster was averted when fire struck at a historic Shepherd Neame pub.

The blaze started in the kitchen of the 16th century Pepperbox Inn, in Ulcombe, Kent, just before the pub was about to open.

Licensee Sarah Pemble was at the other end of the building and had no idea the kitchen was going up in smoke until she heard pet dog Barney barking.

Meanwhile neighbours rallied round to shift gas canisters out from the cellar and called the fire brigade.

Pemble said the efforts of the community allowed her to open the pub, which has been in the family for 50 years, the very next day.

She said: "If they hadn't taken such quick action the entire pub would have gone up in smoke.

"The response has been amazing from them and Shepherd Neame. People have even given me keys to their homes so I can use their bathrooms."

The majority of the damage was to pub kitchen, the roof and some of the living quarters

And although the pub was open almost immediately Shepherd Neame have had to provide a mobile kitchen to help the food-led pub get back on track.

Pemble added: "It is difficult because of the food but we would never have even been open if it wasn't for the neighbours and luckily nobody was injured."

Shepherd Neame property and tenanted trade director, said: "It was fantastic how everyone rallied round to help Sarah and her staff clean up after the fire. It shows what great community spirit there is, and thanks to everyone's hard work the pub was able to re-open the following evening."

The fire started at about 5.30pm on Monday August 24 and was extinguised by fire crews about an hour later.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated.