Customers worried for future of 'lovely' historic Bilston pub after overnight fire
Customers of an historic Bilston pub which was destroyed by an overnight fire have spoken of their shock and sorrow at the blaze.
The blaze at the Greyhound and Punchbowl in Bilston High Street is being treated as arson after fire crews were called at around 3.40am on Saturday.
As firefighters continued to make the scene safe and investigate the cause, people gathered to look at the remains of the listed building which dates back to 1450.
Initially a manor house, it became a licensed venue in the 18th century.
Fire crews from Bilston, Willenhall, Tipton and Wolverhampton were called to the Greyhound and Punchbowl in Bilston High Street on Saturday morning around 3.30am after smoke was seen pouring out of the pub.
Andy Spedding, who has lived in Bilston all his life and has been a customer at the pub regularly over the last 20 years, said it was a shock to him.
He said: "The last time I was in was about a week ago, I only came out this morning to do some shopping so to see the pub effectively gutted is a real shock. I believe the pub had quite a bit of money spent on it fairly recently to refurbish and update it so to see what has happened is a shame."
Elaine Burney said she wasn't a regular at the pub but did use it and said it would be a shame if it were to close or the building be condemned.
She said: "It's a unique building, very historic and part of Bilston's heritage so hopefully they can salvage something from it but it looks like there is a lot of damage so we will have to see what happens.
"I was only in there on Wednesday it was a lovely pub, a good addition to Bilston and the high street. I hope it doesn't get pulled down."
Fire crews from Bilston, Willenhall, Tipton and Wolverhampton were sent, before the stop message was sent at 7.24am.
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said most of the damage was done on the ground floor, with photos from inside the pub showing blackened bar and seating areas.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police confirmed officers were treating the incident as arson, saying: "We are investigating after a suspected arson attack at a pub in Bilston.
"Anyone who was in Bilston High Street around 4am today (30 September) can contact us via Live Chat or 101 quoting log 585 of the 30th."
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