The Blackbirds Inn closed ‘until further notice' following fire

The Chestnut Group's Blackbirds Inn at Woodditton, Cambridgeshire, is ‘closed until further notice' after a fire ripped through the building on Friday morning (2 March).

Over 30 firefighters from Suffolk Fire and Rescue and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to the scene. There were no customers in the 68-cover pub at the time and all staff were able to safely exit the building with no injuries.

However the building suffered "significant damage" and is closed with customers being advised to rearrange reservations or move them to another Chestnut Group restaurant.

 

There has been a major fire at The Blackbirds Inn. Everyone is out and safe. We will keep you posted. pic.twitter.com/mjMBiX4dic

 

— The Blackbirds Inn (@Blackbirds_Inn)

There has been a major fire at The Blackbirds Inn. Everyone is out and safe. We will keep you posted. pic.twitter.com/mjMBiX4dic

— The Three Blackbirds (@3_Blackbirds) March 2, 2018

A statement from the group reads: "The Chestnut Group can confirm that a fire broke out at The Blackbirds Inn, Wooditton on Friday 2 March.

"The management at the Blackbirds Inn and its parent company, the Chestnut Group, are working with the Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire."

The Blackbirds Inn opened in 2017 with a pre-opening budget of £125,000 and a further £400,000 available to build nine bedrooms. The average spend per head was £27 with the pub's business split between 60% dry and 40% wet sales.

The portfolio includes the Packhorse Inn in Moulton, Newmarket (the group's first property); the Rupert Brooke in Grantchester, Cambridge; the Northgate in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; the Black Lion in Long Melford, Suffolk; and the Blackbirds Inn.

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