Piper prepares to rise from ashes
LANCASHIRE’S oldest pub, which was damaged by fire last week, will reopen in the new year, once repairs have been carried out.
The thatched roof of the Scotch Piper went up in flames shortly after 3pm on December 6 and firefighters spent four hours tackling the blaze.
Three fire engines arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control - but the roof could not be saved.
The structure of the 700-yearold building was relatively unscathed and the pub’s owner, Admiral Taverns has now said that it will be repaired and reopened in 2017.
Andy Clifford, group property and strategy director for Admiral Taverns said: ““We are currently working with the listed buildings officer and various parties to agree the works required to allow the Scotch Piper to reopen in 2017.
“Action is already under way and we will be erecting scaffolding around the property in the next few days to further protect the site and allow work to progress.”
Roy Copplestone, bar manager at The Scotch Piper, was the first to discover the fire.
He said: “I left the pub out of the back door, going to fetch a barrel of beer to change the barrel over.
“I noticed the thatch was on fire around the chimney stack. I alerted two members of the public to phone the fire brigade, then scaled onto roof.
“The two gentlemen passed a bucket up to me and I tried to control the fire until the fire brigade arrived.”
Jamie Green, premises supervisor at The Scotch Piper, said that he had only taken over a few weeks ago after the previous licensee left.
The pub has been a key part of the community since 1320, and is classed as Lancashire’s oldest.
The Scotch Piper is thought to have been first used as a pub in the 15th century and has survived many fires before, including one fairly recently.
As well as its traditional roof and whitewashed walls, it is also famous for its real ales, featuring in Camra’s Good Beer Guide and being named Community Pub of the Year in 2015.
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The thatched roof is 100% damaged by fire.
“The property is severely damaged by water from fire fighting.”