Moped rider raises the alarm during Rottingdean pub fire (From The Argus)

Mystery moped rider offered reward for saving Queen Victoria pub

1:50pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News By Siobhan Ryan

A mystery moped rider who raised the alarm after spotting a fire at a pub is being offered a |pint on the house by its landlords.

The rider was going past the Queen Victoria in the High Street, Rottingdean, shortly after 2am yesterday when he saw flames flickering in the ground floor window.

The man banged on the door and woke up Ian Wilson and Philip Rees, who live in the flat above the pub.

The pair, along with their two cats and dogs, were able to get out safely before the flames took hold.

Smoke damage The fire badly damaged the ground floor, although the cost of the blaze is not yet known.

Mr Wilson, who has run the pub with Mr Rees for the last eight months, said they hoped to reopen within two weeks.

He said: “It is obviously a blow as we have been working hard since we arrived here, but the most important thing is that nobody was hurt.

“We were able to get our dogs out and the cats are okay as well.

“We are really grateful to the moped rider as he warned us even before the smoke alarm went off.

“It might have been a lot worse if he hadn’t been passing.

“We will offer him a drink if he gets in contact.”

Smoke and heat damage

He added: “The fire has caused a lot of smoke and heat damage but we are hopeful we will be able to open up again soon and look forward to welcoming our regulars again.”

The fire is believed to have started accidentally.

Crews from Roedean and Preston Circus were able to stop it from spreading beyond the ground floor.

Roedean watch manager John Bradford said: “The ground floor of the pub has been damaged, but we were able to contain it.”

Crews were at the scene until around 3.30am.

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