Owners of pub destroyed by fire ‘committed’ to rebuilding venue
The owners of a popular pub which was destroyed in a devastating fire have shared their plans for the future of the venue.
The Osborne View pub in Hill Head, near Fareham, was struck by a huge fire in the early hours of Thursday, February 22, with firefighters from 10 Hampshire stations rushing to tackle the blaze.
Much of the building was left in ruins by the flames and smoke, and minor smoke damage was also caused at the adjacent Breezes Cafe.
The ferocious fire which destroyed the historic pub is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault in a tumble dryer.
Hall and Woodhouse – the chain which owns the pub – will need to apply for new planning permission as the original structure has been almost entirely destroyed.
It is thought that the building will remain as a pub rather than being repurposed for anything else, such as accommodation.
Now, Hall and Woodhouse has shared an update regarding its plans to rebuild The Osborne View, having previously expressed its commitment to doing so shortly after the fire.
Matt Kearsey, managing director of Hall and Woodhouse, said: “Hall and Woodhouse is committed to rebuilding The Osborne View Hotel to return it to our valued guests following the fire which broke out a couple of months ago.
“While our timescales for redevelopment are currently being determined, our plans to restore the building to its former cherished role within the Fareham community are progressing.
“In the meantime, we regularly have contractors on site to maintain the safety of our premises.
“We will update on plans to rebuild when we are able to and thank our locals for their continued patience and understanding during this process.”
A spokesperson also confirmed that there is no planning approval currently in place for the demolition of The Osborne View.
Many residents and loyal customers have spoken of their heartache at the loss of the pub and their hopes it will not be gone from our landscape for very long.
Speaking on the beach in front of The Osborne View a day after its destruction, Gosport resident Jeff said: “It’s such a shame because we used it quite a lot in the summer. We used it for family celebrations. It was a really good day out usually.”
“Everybody in the local community has got very happy memories of coming here.”