Pub at centre of £1m redevelopment destroyed by fire

By Claire Dodd Claire

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Pub South yorkshire

A Doncaster pub has been destroyed by arsonists, just months after being saved for the community from development into housing. However, Wykeham...

A Doncaster pub has been destroyed by arsonists, just months after being saved for the community from development into housing.

However, Wykeham Estates, owner of the Robin Hood and Little John in Hatfield Woodhouse, has vowed that the fire, which was started in the early hours of October 14 and left only the pub's outer walls intact, will not stop it reopening after a planned £1m development.

The pub closed in 2005 after Enterprise Inns sold it to a developer who intended to build houses on the land.

The freehold was purchased by Wykeham Estates in March after protests from locals to save the pub. It had since lain empty while planning applications for an extension to house a family area, kitchen and letting rooms were being finalised.

"As devastating as this is, one way or another we will re-open this pub," said Andrew Hempsall, Wykeham pub estates manager. "We have been working for six months to develop a sustainable pub for the community that would be able to prosper in this trading environment and then this hits us. The damage is outstanding.

"But there is strong local support for the business, and it's in a strong trading position on an A-road and close to Doncaster Airport.

"We will work with Doncaster Council to see what the best way to go forward is, but if we have to pull it all down and start again we will do."

Wykeham, a Doncaster-based property company that purchases, develops and manages leisure sites in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, plans to acquire a total of 20 freehold pubs to take advantage of what Hempsall described as the perfect time to buy.

"If you've got the money now is the time to acquire a free-of-tie pub. We plan to expand to up to 20 sites to take advantage of the availability of good pubs at the moment," he said.

Hempsall also confirmed Wykeham is already about to exchange contracts on its second pub.

South Yorkshire Police and fire crews are currently investigating the fire, but Hempsall said early signs are that an accelerant was used.

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