Landlord vows to reopen Flintshire pub hit by blaze

A MAN who was set to take over the lease of a pub before it was badly damaged by fire has vowed to get the business back on its feet.

Pub leaseholder Rob Lewis is facing an unexpected uphill struggle after agreeing to take over the Lifeboat Inn, on Phoenix Street, Sandycroft.

The first floor of the pub was left with shattered windows and severe smoke and fire damage after a blaze at 10.25pm on Sunday, from which 84 drinkers and staff escaped.

One person was treated by paramedics at the scene for ankle injuries, after jumping out of a first floor window.

Three crews, from Deeside and Buckley, used two hose reels and four sets of breathing equipment to tackle the blaze and the ground floor of the pub escaped damage.

Mr Lewis, who currently owns the lease on the nearby New Inn, had been preparing to take over the Lifeboat on Friday, July 31.

He said: “The pub will obviously not be able to open now, which is really disappointing.“It will require some serious investment and renovation to put it right again.

“I will still be opening the doors at some point, but I will have to do a lot of work first.”

A probe into the cause of the blaze has been launched by the fire service and North Wales Police, who are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information can call officers on 0845 607 1002.