Chideock Clockhouse Inn: Fire-hit pub shuts over rising costs

A thatched 16th Century pub that reopened after being gutted by a devastating fire has closed due to escalating costs.

The Grade II-listed Clockhouse Inn in Chideock, Dorset, was badly damaged in the blaze on Easter Monday 2015.

It reopened a year later with help from a community fundraising drive.

Owners Mike and Helen Long said high insurance premiums and increasing costs meant they had been left with "no option" but to close.

The pub - known as The Clock - was all-but-destroyed in the fire that started on 6 April 2015 and took more than 14 fire crews to tackle.

An appeal was immediately set up for Mr and Mrs Long and their children, with the local church opening for donations of cash and clothing.

It was initially feared the whole structure would collapse after the fire, which broke out after an ember from the chimney ignited the thatched roof.

The pub was eventually rebuilt, with a £150,000 bank loan and a £70,000 fundraising drive, reopening on 15 July 2016.

In a statement on social media, the family confirmed the pub had closed its doors for the final time on Sunday.

"Whilst everyone is struggling with increased cost of living at the moment, we have had the added pressure of quadrupled insurance (even though the building is safer than it has ever been) alongside rising loan repayments that were needed after the fire," it said.

"Then of course we all had Covid to contend with."

It said efforts had been made to sell the business but a buyer could not be found.

Residents and visitors posted messages of support, with one describing the village pub as "a local treasure", while another said "Chideock will never be the same again."

"You all worked so hard every day you were there to make it the hub of the community and such a lovely place to visit," said another.

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