Crews from Loughton, Waltham Abbey and Harlow were called to the former Princess of Wales pub in Westall Road, Loughton, at 1:54am on 7 May.
Additional crews from Grays, Orsett and Brentwood also attended, with an aerial ladder platform deployed as part of the response.
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Investigation underway
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire was extinguished by 6:26am and said an investigation would be carried out into the cause. No injuries were reported.
Watch manager Gary Dyer said: “I would like to praise crews who worked really hard to extinguish the fire.”
The site, formerly known as The Clydesdale, has stood empty since 2018.
Plans were submitted in October last year to demolish the building and replace it with 15 homes, although concerns had been raised locally around parking provision linked to the redevelopment.
Unsolved murder
The former pub was also the scene of the unsolved murder of landlord Alan Brooks in 1991. Police have previously said the case remains subject to review should new information come to light.
The incident comes weeks after another fire at a derelict pub, the Rockingham Arms in Corby, was confirmed to be treated as suspected arson, prompting renewed calls from CAMRA for stronger protections for vacant pubs and tighter planning enforcement around redevelopment sites.
Firefighters tackling the Loughton blaze used hose reels, mainline jets and aerial equipment to prevent the fire spreading to nearby properties.
Derelict pub fires have increasingly become a point of concern across the sector, particularly where sites are awaiting redevelopment or have remained vacant for extended periods.
