It could be up to a year before the fire-ravaged Tap & Run pub can return to business, according to one of the owners. Virtually everything but the external walls were destroyed by the blaze, which broke out in the early hours of June 11.
But former cricketer Harry Gurney, who co-owns the pub just over the Leicestershire border in Upper Broughton with England bowler Stuart Broad, said the two of them are determined that the phoenix will rise from the ashes and have already coined the hashtag 'Tap & Run second innings'.
Mr Gurney said: "We're going through the insurance claim at moment, it'll probably be a couple more weeks. All being well, as soon as that has been concluded, we'll get on with the rebuild. They think the build is six to nine months so realistically we're looking at a year closed although I'm obviously trying to expedite that process a little bit and would like to think we might get it open again by the spring."
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He estimated that the cost of the rebuild, decorating and furniture for the gastro pub is likely to be around £1m. He said: "Surveys and structural engineers are assessing it at the moment. It looks like the external walls will be salvageable but that's about it. Everything is totally destroyed. The first floor is all burned, the roof has all gone.
"Although the trading space on the ground floor isn't particularly fire damaged it was smoked damaged and water. So much water poured into the building to put the fire out downstairs is pretty much ruined and everything is pretty much a write-off with the exception of the odd table and chair," said Mr Gurney.
The gastro pub had been full of customers with a typical busy Friday night service hours before the blaze started in the roof. Believed to be accidental the cause remains a mystery.
Mr Gurney said: "I left at about 2.30pm that afternoon and had taken my son to cricket in Loughborough and went to bed that night. It was just a Friday night. I was abruptly awoken at 3.30am in a phone call that I've had a recurring nightmare about receiving. At times over the years I'd wake up during the night and check the CCTV to make sure no one had broken in and to make sure it wasn't on fire and then it happened.
"I drove over there and pulled up at the top of the road and walked round the corner and was greeted by the sight which is the photo I put on my Instagram - it was that thing I'd woken up worrying about on a number of occasions."
One of the villagers had alerted general manager Jack Whitehead about the fire at 3.22am and he'd rung Mr Gurney at his home in Long Whatton. Driving to the pub he said he could see smoke in the sky from several miles away. With Stuart Broad in the middle of a Test Match at Trent Bridge the two spoke briefly on Facetime a few hours later on Saturday morning.
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live 10 days after the fire Mr Gurney said: "There have been all sorts of emotions, a little bit like a grieving process in some way. Sadness, anger, frustration, you name it really. It's been a traumatic few days but I'm quite an optimistic, pragmatic kind of person and have just busied myself with resurrecting the pub rather than getting too down in the dumps about it.
"Everyone is just devastated. I've had locals walk up to me crying, we've had locals doing a collection to give to the team and they are absolutely gutted and desperate to help in any way they can. The reaction has been really heart-warming and a real help."
Offers have poured in from builders, a flooring company has offered to provide the kitchen floor for free and a company has donated a container for six months to store anything that can be salvaged, such as the garden furniture.
Locals have also offered financial support but Mr Gurney said: "We have been approached by people offering to give a donation to try and help rebuild the pub. If anyone wants to support the business it's still possible to buy gift vouchers on our website.
"Broady and I would be far more comfortable with people doing that rather than making a donation because long-term they're going to get value for their contribution."
