A BREWERY that owns a 400-year-old Cheshire pub badly damaged by fire, described the incident as 'devastating'.

Robinsons has issued a statement calling the fire at The Smoker ‘devastating, adding they expect the damage to be ‘quite severe’.

The Stockport-based brewery confirmed smoke and flames were spotted around the base of one of the chimney stacks in the thatched roof at the front of the 400-year-old pub at 5.30pm on Wednesday, October 23.

The brewery also confirmed there were no casualties, and William Robinson, managing director of pubs at Robinsons, praised staff for doing an ‘excellent job’ evacuating the pub.

He also thanked firefighters from Cheshire and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue services, and the Salvation Army, who were on hand to see to the welfare of those caught up in the blaze.   

William added: “I’d like to extend my thanks to the nine fire crews of Cheshire and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue services who both attended the fire and worked throughout the night to extinguish the flames.

“Alongside the fire crews, The Salvation Army were on site, playing an incredible role in looking after the welfare of the fire crews and others onsite.

“It will take quite some time to fully understand the level of damage that has been done, but we suspect it to be quite severe.”

William also confirmed the brewery would be working together with insurers to restore and revive the pub in Plumley.

The Smoker has been owned by Robinsons family brewers since 1949 and is one of the only pubs in their estate with a thatched roof.