Dog dies in fire at recently-refurbished Grade 2 listed pub in Harlow, Essex

A dog was killed in a fire at a recently-refurbished historic pub, which reopened less than a year ago.

Onlookers watched helplessly on Thursday night as flames rose from the Three Horseshoes pub in Harlow, a Grade 2 listed building thought to be more than 300 years old.

The fire broke out at 9.30pm on Thursday and continued to burn until 3am on Friday.

It is thought to have started in the kitchen upstairs. The flames exposed the rafters and caused the tiled roof to collapse on one side of the building.

Six fire engines were at the scene. Although no injuries were reported, the owners lost one of their two dogs.

Locals said the pub had just reopened within the last nine months - after closing for refurbishment and a change in management following the Covid lockdowns.

Joe Squires, 40, who runs the Red Lion pub in Harlow owned by the same brewery, said the pub had been "starting to do well".

He told Essex Live: "It had been a bit of a problem pub, then Sharon and Dave took it on, and turned it around massively. It’s just sad that this has happened."

Joe said: “It’s an iconic pub, and to see it gone [is sad], because I can’t see it coming back from this. It’s still burning now. It’s over three hundred years old. It was one of the first pubs built around here. It was Grade II listed. That’s why it’s still burning, because it’s all original oak.”

Essex Fire station manager Maddams, said the damage has been confined to the upper floors and the roof space.

He said: “My understanding is, that it was coming up to closing time, so there weren’t many people in the pub when they discovered the fire."

An investigation into the cause of the fire will be underway when it is safe.

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