‘You can’t keep a good man down’
The publican of Horsham’s Victoria Hotel has vowed to ‘come back stronger than ever’ after the popular venue was extensively damaged by fire last week.
Mark Fitterer, who took over the pub’s leasehold 11 months ago, said he felt ‘numb’ as he watched Country Fire Authority crews battle the large blaze, which started in the pub’s laundry about 11pm on May 25.
He has, however, wasted little time springing into action and hopes to again offer takeaway meals to the public by Friday night.
Mr Fitterer plans to set up a ‘mobile kitchen’ in the hotel’s car park.
He said patrons should be able to return to the main bar – which suffered smoke damage in the fire – on June 22.
The hotel’s drive-through shop is already operational.
“It took two days to get power and water in there, because we couldn’t open without any toilets, and we were up and running again,” Mr Fitterer said.
“The people of Horsham have been great, supporting the bottle shop. They have also been very supportive of the pub throughout the coronavirus.
“When the virus hit, we thought, what are we going to do? We decided we were going to do takeaway food and that just exploded for us.
“Then we thought, we’re going to be able to open up again and then we had the fire. “But we’re still soldiering on.” Mr Fitterer runs the hotel with his wife, Jo, and daughter and son-in-law, Schenley and John Jubilo.
The family was upstairs when the fire broke out.
Crews and 10 CFA vehicles from Horsham, Murtoa, Dooen and Ballarat City fought to bring the fire under control by 1.06am.
Crews remained on scene for several hours to mop up and ensure no further flare-ups.
Mr Fitterer said paramedics treated him for mild smoke inhalation but thankfully, no-one was injured.
“I’d never experienced anything like this in my life,” he said.
“I couldn’t believe it. From standing outside I knew it was bad, but you don’t expect to see that damage.”
The fire caused extensive damage to the kitchen and bistro, which Mr Fitterer said would need to be rebuilt.
“The Mill Room function room has some smoke damage – soot on the tables – and the beer garden is untouched,” he said. bottle
“The main bar has smoke damage but we are hoping to have it running by June 22.
“We’ve got cleaners upstairs, the smoke is pretty bad up there, as you can imagine.”
Damage bill
Country Fire Authority leaders have estimated the damage to be in excess of $300,000, but Mr Fitterer said he was yet to determine the cost of rebuilding.
“I couldn’t even guess, but I know it’s a lot,” he said.
“We have insurance but I never expected to use it. Maybe for a broken freezer or something, but not for this.
“The insurance company has been great, though, I can’t fault them.
“They were here on Tuesday morning and they’ve been good to us.
“But we are pushing, because they told us it would take four to six months to have it all up and running again and we said that’s not good enough.
“I wish I could just click my fingers and it would all be fixed.”
This is Mr Fitterer’s first time as a publican, having previously owned and run a transport company.
He said he and Jo were looking for a freehold, rather than a leasehold, when they came across ‘The Vic’.
“We just fell in love with it,” he said. “It’s a great pub. It has great staff. It was just perfect.
“It’s a great town Horsham – it’s in a grouse spot.
“We were kicking goals. For a pub that was serving 830 takeaway meals a week – and even more before the virus – people loved us.”
Mr Fitterer paid tribute to the hotel’s staff along with freehold owners, John and Sally Brennan, who ran the pub for 17 years. “Every single staff member has come back and asked what they can do to help – every single one,” he said.
“And me and JB have got along famously, from day one.
“He’s not like a lot of owners who would just leave you to it, he’s still involved. “I still bounce everything off him.” Mr Brennan said watching firefighters battle the blaze was ‘devastating’.
He said he was helping Mr Fitterer work through the insurance process and looked forward to seeing work progress.
For now, Mr Fitterer is keen to see his mobile kitchen up and running.
“We’re going straight back to the full menu, including all the specials,” he said. “Even if it can’t be done, we’ll do it. “I’m coming back fighting harder than ever – you can’t keep a good man down, I’m telling you now.
“No way – not this pub, anyway.”
– Mark Fitterer