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Amy's local reopens eight months after devastating fire
Kiran Randhawa13 Oct 2008
One of London's most fashionable pubs, devastated by the Canal Market fire, is to reopen at the end of the month.
The Hawley Arms, frequented by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty and Sadie Frost, was under threat of being demolished after the blaze that caused millions of pounds of damage.
Plans to refurbish the pub were delayed after a dispute with council officials. Now, eight months after the fire that gutted up to 300 shops, stalls and other businesses, it is to open its doors again.
Ruth Mottram, one of the managers, said: "We just wanted to have our pub back. We were hitting a brick wall and we got to the stage where we thought if we carry on we won't open until next year. We put in a massive compromise but we're really happy to get it open. We're really excited."
The Hawley owners scrapped plans to enlarge the pub's roof terrace by putting a staircase at the back of the building. It will now have a staircase to the side and a fire escape on the first floor.
Ms Mottram said: "We're trying to bring it back to how it was, so people feel like it hasn't been gone."
Stallholders were given £750,000 to rebuild by the Government and owners Camden Market Holdings after the fire, caused by a stallholder's portable heater.
Reader views (1)
why does the Government give money ? the Govt wouldn't give me money if my house burnt down I'm pretty sure, unless they caused it. Isn't that the idea of Buildings Insurance ?
- Squiz, Islington, 13/10/2008 12:47
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