Yummy Pub Co praises ‘incredible' staff after devastating blaze
The Yummy Pub Co has praised its "incredible" staff who quickly evacuated its Euston venue when a devastating fire broke out on Friday evening.
Tim Foster, co-owner and "head of being awesome" at the Yummy Pub Co, told The Caterer: "Our team were incredible. 350 people were evacuated in less than three minutes. One of the guys tried to tackle the fire while the general manager led the evacuation. It meant that when the first crews arrived within seven minutes, they could just tackle the fire."
Staff at Somers Town Coffee House had been alerted to the blaze when residents living opposite raised the alarm having spotted flames coming from the upper floors. The quick action of the pub's staff meant no one was injured.
Firefighters arrived shortly after 8pm and managed to save the ground floor of the pub, although the roof and second floor have suffered extensive damage. The areas included staff accommodation and a chef academy, where the pub group worked with people from a neighbouring homeless charity.
Foster, who has been shortlisted for the Education and Training Award at the Cateys 2018, said the company was "full of admiration" for firefighters who used tarpaulin and water hoovers to save TVs, furniture, pictures and features, including 150-year-old oak paneling, while their colleagues pumped water onto the flames through the roof.
In a tweet to London Fire Brigade the pub group said: "Just sooooo much respect for you all. Then the ongoing support from crew after crew yesterday, you guys are a credit to London living!!"
Police are not treating the fire as suspicious and Foster said the exact cause has yet to be ascertained, although the kitchen and extractor units have been ruled out.
Picture: London Fire Brigade
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