Star at Harome fire believed to have been started deliberately

The fire that extensively damaged Andrew Pern's Michelin-starred the Star at Harome in North Yorkshire is believed to have been started deliberately.

The fire spread through the thatched, 14th century pub on Wednesday night. At the time several groups of people are believed to have been in the area and witnesses have been asked to contact North Yorkshire Police.

Speaking on Friday Pern said the pub had been "reduced to ashes", he later told BBC Look North: "Seeing your career go up in smoke isn't the best feeling in the world, but we're fairly robust characters and we'll bounce back."

While the roof and roof space suffered extensive damage, one end of the building and the ground floor were saved from the blaze. All occupants had left safely when fire crews arrived.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 12210248468; email peter.day@northyorkshire.police.uk; or pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A blaze at Pern's the Star Inn the City in York destroyed the restaurant's kitchen on 9 November 2018, closing the property for four months.

Pern celebrated 25 years at the Star at Harome this summer. The venue and its proprietors are triple Catey winners, having won Menu of the Year at the 1997 Cateys and the Newcomer Award the following year, while Andrew and Jacquie Pern won Pub and Bar Operator of the Year in 2002.