Fuller’s “flagship” Admiralty pub in Trafalgar Square opened its doors again on Wednesday 5 April, following a £3m refit to restore the fire ravaged site.
The fire broke out in the site’s basement last July, on one of the hottest days of the year, seeing a team of 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines tackle to blaze.
Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny described the pub as a “phoenix rising from the ashes.”
He said: “I am delighted to be reopening the doors of The Admiralty.
“The fire was devastating, and we can’t thank our team and the London Fire Brigade enough, but it is great to see this wonderful site back open for business.
Great testament
“It’s the total embodiment of everything that’s great about a Fuller’s pub. A fantastic range of beers, wines and spirits, delicious home-cooked fresh, seasonal food, an iconic location and a great team offering the warmest of welcomes.”
Emeny added the pubco “puts people and customers ahead of profits”, and the effort from the team to evacuate everyone in the site at the time of the fire safely and swiftly, including 110 schoolchildren enjoying a pre-theatre meal, was a “great testament” to this.
Staff also shared their delight in welcoming people back to the Admiralty.
Assistant manager Chloe Brack said: “We're excited to be bringing a newness back to the building.
“It’s a great location and was a really popular pub previously and now it has a new lease of life.”
In addition, as part of the refurbishment, the Admiralty is Fuller’s first carbon neutral pub.
Much fresher
Powered by a zero-carbon energy source, the site is fully electric and marks a “major step” towards the firm’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2023.
The event was attended by people from across the sector, including representatives from the All-Party Parliamentary Group and British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Emma McClarkin, who described the new look as “much fresher” and “traditional”.
“It’s great to see this institution open again”, she added.
London Fire Brigade deputy assistant commissioner Greg Ashman and some of the crew who tackled the inferno were also in attendance.
Ashman said he was “delighted” to be invited to the reopening and praised the fire crews’ efforts to “save” the building in “arduous conditions”.
He continued: “It was an honour to cut the ribbon and we wish the Admiralty team the best as they welcome back punters.”
See images of the pub's "fresh" new look below.
