Fire damages famous UB40 pub the Eagle and Tun
A man staying at the 'closed' Eagle and Tun pub suffered serious burns in the blaze.
The pub made famous for starring in a UB40 video has been damaged in a fire.
A homeless man was inside the Eagle and Tun pub, in Digbeth, when the fire took hold.
He suffered severe burns and was taken to hospital following the blaze on Thursday night.
A total of 20 firefighters tackled the blaze in a rear ground floor room at pub in Banbury Street at around 9.10pm.
West Midlands Fire Service said the pub is believed to have been closed for 10 days but the man had been allowed to stay there.
The pub was used to film Red Red Wine by UB40 and was also more recently the setting for an Ed Sheeran music video.
It faced demolition for the controversial high speed rail line.
Just hours before the blaze passers-by reported how staff were “clearing everything out”.
The gas and electricity had to be isolated and police and firefighters are still at the scene 12 hours later trying to find the cause.
A West Midlands Fire Service spokeswoman said: "The incident involved a severe fire contained to the rear ground floor room of a two-storey public house.
"It has been out of use for approximately 10 days.
"One man who was homeless but allowed to sleep inside was treated for severe burns and taken to hospital."
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were able to get close enough to take the blaze using hose reels.
An investigation is under way to assess how the blaze started.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Jamie Arrowsmith said: "On arrival we discovered one patient, a man.
"He was treated for burns and smoke inhalation before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further treatment."
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police were called to help fire service colleagues following a fire at a building in New Canal Street, Digbeth, just after 9.10pm yesterday.
"A man in his 50s who was inside was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
"Officers are working alongside the fire service to establish the cause of the blaze."
Red Red Wine topped the charts in August 1983 and the pub was also featured on the band’s 1987 album The Best Of UB40, featuring a compilation of songs recorded at the nearby DEP International Studio in Digbeth.
Back in August Ed Sheeran also used the pub to shoot a music video with grime artists MC Jaykae and Aitch.
He was pictured enjoying a pint at the bar.
