Fire at The Tabard pub & theatre sparks evacuation

Image: The Tabard pub & theatre at 2 Bath Road

Staff, punters, rehearsing company and the pub’s three cats evacuated

The Tabard pub and theatre were evacuated on Thursday afternoon (21 November) after a fire was reported on the first floor.

At 2.33pm a member of staff witnessed smoke coming out of one of the electrical cupboards in the pub accommodation area. The fire alarm was sounded and the building was evacuated, including pub and theatre staff, punters, the rehearsing company and the pub’s three cats.

The London Fire Brigade were called at 2.38pm to reports of the fire, which involved an old electricity metre.

Two fire engines and ten firefighters from Hammersmith attended, as well as an ambulance and two NHS response units, the London Fire Brigade said.

There were no reports of any serious injuries but two people who left the property were treated on scene by paramedics, the LFB added.

A small part of the first floor was damaged. The fire was under control by 4.08pm.

Image: Assistant Manager Victoria Uzdabinyte and one of Tabard’s cats – Nugget

“We have been overwhelmed with the support” 

In a joint statement after the fire, The Tabard pub and theatre thanked everyone who attended the scene and supported them to get back up and running quickly.

They offered particular thanks to London Fire Brigade and St Michael and All Angels Church for offering a warm place to shelter and enabling the theatre’s rehearsal to continue.

Neighbours were spotted outside in their pyjamas as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.

John Higginson, General Manager of the Tabard, said:

“We have been overwhelmed with the support we have received from our pub regulars, theatre audiences and the local community. We would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone helped us to reopen our doors so quickly.”

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