Grade II-listed pub goes up in flames just hours after landlord posted mysterious Facebook message saying ‘you don’t want to miss this’
- North Yorkshire police responded to concerns for safety of man on roof of a pub
- Arrived at Old Swan Inn at Gargrave and noticed a fire had started inside
- North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue attended to put blaze and rescue the man
- Hours before fire, owner Tim Sharp posted message saying ‘you don’t want to miss this’
A Grade II-listed pub has been ripped apart in a large fire just hours after its landlord posted mysterious message online saying ‘you don’t want to miss this’.
North Yorkshire Police were initially responding to concerns for the safety of a man in his 50s, who was seen on top of the Old Swan Inn at Gargrave.
But on arriving at the scene, officers noticed a fire had started inside the historic pub.
Fire and rescue crews required a six-pump attendance to put out the blaze, and used an aerial ladder platform to rescue the man, who was injured, from the roof before taking him to hospital in a critical condition.
North Yorkshire Police were initially responding to concerns for the safety of a man in his 50s, who was seen on top of the Old Swan Inn at Gargrave, but on arriving the found a fire inside
Police say they will now carry out a full investigation into the cause of fire.
The popular pub had been in Coronavirus lockdown since March and was due to reopen in Thursday.
Just hours before the incident, landlord Tim Sharp left a cryptic message on his facebook profile, saying: ‘So to all the gossipers and gobs****s in this village, and there is plenty of them. The truth will be told later today. And I have all the proof of that.
Just hours before the incident, landlord Tim Sharp left a cryptic message on his facebook profile, saying: ‘So to all the gossipers and gobs****s in this village, and there is plenty of them. The truth will be told later today. And I have all the proof of that’
‘So stay tuned in as will be going live on Facebook tonight. Believe me you don’t want to miss this Tim x’.
Mr Sharp was a local man who had returned to the village a few years ago after making money building racing bikes as Tim Sharp Racing in Douglas on the Isle of Man.
After divorcing his first wife Aileen he met Lindsay in early 2017 and in December the same year, the couple took over The Old Swan Inn.
Villagers said he had been the investor in The Old Swan and his partner Lindsay, both business and personal, was the landlady.
Russ Hamilton, 55, who is a regular, said: ‘Lindsay is the landlady, Tim was the investor and her partner.
‘When I read what he’d posted on Facebook I thought “what the Hell?” and now this.
Mr Sharp was a local man who had returned to the village a few years ago after making money in the Isle of Man. Villagers said he had been the investor in The Old Swan and his partner Lindsay, both business and personal, was the landlady
‘They took over the pub about two-and-a-half years ago and were making a real go of it and it was getting back to how good it had been in the past.’
According to locals Mr Sharp was a Burnley football fan and adored his black Labrador called Denzil.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue tweeted that a man in his 50s has been taken to hospital after a fire at the Old Swan Inn pub, on the High Street, in Gargrave.
Neighbouring house had to be evacuated and the A65 was also closed to traffic with diversions in place until the early hours.
North Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
A spokesperson said: ‘Witnesses or anyone with information that could assist the inquiry are asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room. Please quote reference number 12200115385 when providing details.’
North Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident