Fire at Guy Ritchie's London pub

Fire crews have managed to save a London pub owned by film director Guy Ritchie.

The blaze at the Lore of the Land in Fitzrovia is thought to have started in the kitchen.

Emergency crews were called to the site in Conway Street at 12.15pm on Wednesday. In total ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters spent several hours tackling the blaze before they got it under control just before 4pm.

Mr Ritchie arrived at the scene at around 4.30pm and spoke to firefighters and police officers. According to one officer, he did not look distraught''.

Kit Kitchener, the manager of Lore of the Land, said:

The main thing is that no-one is hurt. It's the only thing that matters. We just have to wait for the guys to do their thing until we can go in later and look at the damage.

But we definitely won't be opening tomorrow.''

He added:

We've been told now the damage isn't too bad. The place is not gutted. I've seen pictures and it just looks smoky in there. I think the fire brigade are rightly being cautious.''

Kitchen worker at the pub, Bidssa Imlria, who has worked there for three months, said:

The pub was on fire when I got here but the fire definitely started in the kitchen. We don't know when we'll be allowed back in.''

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said the location of the fire, which was inside the extraction system and is believed to have started in the kitchen, meant several firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze. Station Commander Jason Fisby said:

The fire is within the extraction system from the first floor to the roof vent. There are no reports of any injuries.

Access to the seat of the fire is challenging and very labour intensive. The number of fire engines at the scene is a reflection of the need for a high turn over of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

Firefighters are carrying out salvage work and trying to prevent water damage on the floors below.''

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The Lore of the Land pub and a spokesperson for Mr Ritchie have been contacted for comment.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.