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Tradesman's Arms pub in Stokenham rises from the ashes

BBC Tradesman's Arms pub in StokenhamBBC
The pub (on the right) is due to fully reopen while work continues on the neighbouring cottages

A 14th Century thatched pub is about to reopen, more than two and a half years after it was destroyed in a huge fire.

The Tradesman's Arms in Stokenham, Devon went up in flames after a fire in the kitchen in September 2021.

Four neighbouring cottages were also destroyed and £13,000 was raised by locals to help, which pub owner Cath Sanders said spurred her on to reopen.

Work is continuing on the cottages and the pub is having soft openings before being fully open by 10 May.

Kingsbridge Police Tradesman's Arms pub in Stokenham on fireKingsbridge Police
The fire gutted the pub and four neighbouring cottages

"The community showed their love for the pub, which made us even more determined to get it back up and running," Ms Sanders said.

She added that the smell of the fire would "stay with me for the rest of my life".

"But you deal with it and get on," she said.

"It was massively stressful when it burned down, but I would think it's more stressful putting it back together, it's been a challenge but we're there."

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