A Discarded Cigarette Sparked a Fire at a Thatched Leicestershire Pub

A discarded cigarette is believed to have caused a fire at a thatched pub in the Leicestershire village of Hoby, narrowly missing the main building and a nearby cellar where gas canisters and beer kegs were stored, according to local fire officials and pub staff.

The fire broke out late Saturday at The Blue Bell as staff were calling last orders and preparing to close for the night. Flames spread through a bin storage area at the rear of the pub and also caught fencing in the beer garden, creating a serious risk for the property because of the pub’s thatched roof.

Fire crews from Melton and Birstall were sent to the scene and brought the blaze under control. The fire service said the cause was believed to be “carelessly discarded smoking materials.” No injuries were reported.

Mason Platts, who works at the Everards-run pub, said staff first noticed the problem when they smelled smoke near closing time. He said they then saw sparks before the fire rapidly grew. Staff used a hose to begin tackling the flames before firefighters arrived, and Platts said crews then made sure the area was fully extinguished and soaked down to prevent the fire from spreading.

Platts said the outcome could have been far worse. The fire stopped short of the pub’s thatched roof, a feature that can make buildings especially vulnerable once flames reach the structure. On the other side of the wall near the fire was the pub cellar, where gas canisters, kegs and other supplies were kept. He said a fire reaching that space could have become catastrophic.

The incident has drawn attention to the danger of careless smoking disposal during a period of heightened fire risk. Platts said it was particularly upsetting because of recent public warnings about dry conditions and fires elsewhere in the country. He said staff were shaken by how close the pub came to a much larger disaster on its own property.

He also thanked neighbors who offered support after the fire and urged customers to take more care with cigarettes, especially in outdoor pub areas where bins, fencing and dry materials can ignite quickly. The fire service has not reported any broader damage beyond the bin store and fencing, but the incident underscored how quickly a small ember can threaten an older building.