After a frantic three weeks, the pub reopened on the evening of October 14th. It remained closed during the day to permit completion of the kitchen, which reopened on November 4th.
There's a new set of glasses & optics (the old ones having melted or shattered) and also of hand pumps. The supplier of the latter sent swan neck ones by mistake but then sent a chap to convert them just in time for the reopening, which got considerable coverage on local BBC TV, in conjunction with landlord Pete Gray's receipt of a Cask Marque award [see Cask Marque]. The BBC crew are based nearby on Hills Road and had arrived at the scene of the fire shortly after the Fire Service.
The beers remain the same: Bateman's Mild, Everard's Tiger, B&T Edwin Taylor's Stout, Nethergate Umbel Ale, Bruno's Bitter, Adnam's Bitter, Hoegaarden plus guests and the local cider, Cassels' Shelford. Pete has taken the opportunity to convert a storage area to extra seating.
The pub has had tremendous support from its neighbours and staff and all concerned had a private party to celebrate progress just before the reopening. An Environmental Health Officer turned up and stated that the neighbours might complain about the noise - even though they were all at the party and there was no power!