Fire crews tackling huge blaze at 400-year-old thatched Cheshire pub

Firefighters are tonight battling to save a centuries old thatched pub which has gone up in flames. The blaze broke out at The Smoker, on the A556 Manchester Road in the village of Plumley, near Knutsford, shortly before 5:30pm this evening (Wednesday).

It involved the thatched roof of the historic, 400 year-old pub Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said. The building was evacuated as crews began tackling the flames whilst two cats were also rescued and returned to their owners.

The A556 was closed in both directions with the slip roads at junction 19 of the M6 also closed by police as they urged people to avoid the area due to the amount of smoke. They have since reopened but Manchester Road and Plumley Moor Road remain closed.

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Crews used an aerial platform to douse the building in water from above. Cheshire Fire Service said crews would be at the scene throughout the night and into tomorrow morning.

Two fire engines from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) also joined the four from Cheshire at the scene to assist. Cheshire Fire Service say those tackling it are making "good progress."

They are now removing the thatch in order to fully damp down the structure of the building. Power is also being isolated from the building.

"The fire is still being tackled and relief crews are expected to be in attendance throughout the night and into tomorrow morning. A fire investigation to establish the cause will take place once the fire is fully extinguished" Cheshire Fire Service said.

Coaching inn The Smoker first opened its doors in 1597, the year when William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ was first performed., and is the only pub in Britain with that name. The now Robinsons brewery pub underwent a a £750,000 refurbishment in 2018.