Devastating blaze at historic Bristol pub was suspected arson attack

Shannon Brown

29 April 2024 at 10:06 am·2-min read

Smoke fills the sky as a pub fire rages — Fire crews at the fire in Bristol -Credit:Submitted

A fire which broke out at a historic former pub in Bristol is believed to have been started deliberately. The blaze tore through the former White Hart Lodge pub last week, spreading across three floors and causing a significant amount of damage to the building, which dates back to the 18th century.

Firefighters rushed to fire on Bath Road in Brislington on Thursday, April 25 after it was reported at around 9.45pm. Crews from Hicks Gate, Temple, Bedminster, Southmead, Portishead, Avonmouth and Kingswood battled the flames at the Grade II-listed building.

The blaze had spread across three floors and a spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue said: "On arrival, firefighters found a fire across the ground, first and second floor of a three-storey building." In an update today (Monday, April 29) the fire service investigation has now been completed and the blaze is believed to have been started deliberately.

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The White Hart lodge dates back to the 18th century, when it was used as a coaching inn that was extended in the mid-19th and the mid-twentieth centuries. In 1977 it was given a Grade II listing and operated as a community pub until the early 2000s. It was then taken over by the Bristol Performing Arts School in 2010, which was its main function for more than 10 years, till the school moved to Warmley in 2021.

Plans to turn the historic building into a care home were revealed last year. Meadowcare Home created a plan to extend White Hart Lodge to create 80 beds and key-worker flats as well as the renovation of the existing listed building.

Pictures taken at the scene show a number of fire engines outside the old pub last week, with smoke filling the sky. One eyewitness said: "Bristol White Hart pub, Bath Road, on fire."

Firefighters used high pressure hose reels, 45mm jets and a turntable ladder as a water tower to extinguish the blaze. 11 firefighters wore breathing apparatus for safety. There were no reported injuries. Police and ambulance were also in attendance to assist fire crews.

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