A CANALSIDE pub destroyed by a massive fire will have to be demolished, its owners have revealed.

Blackburn-based Thwaites Brewery have pledged to submit plans to rebuild the hostelry with microbrewery and restaurant later this summer.

The Grill and Grain at the Boatyard in Bolton Road, Riley Green, had undergone a £1million plus restoration in November 2016.

With severe damage to the roof and interior and possible other major structural problems caused by April’s blaze Thwaites has been forced to admit demolition and rebuilding, costing hundreds of thousand of pounds, is the only option left to them.

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The company’s director of pubs and brewing, Andrew Buchanan, said: “Sadly the fire at Grill and Grain caused considerable damage to the building and we are having to completely demolish what is left.

“It’s a sad situation for everyone who was involved in developing the pub as so much work went into it.

“However, we are now looking to the future and we want to get Grill and Grain back open again as soon as possible, and even better than before.

“We have a team working on designs. It’s at a very early stage at the moment but we hope that in a few months’ time we will be in a position to submit plans to the local authority for consideration.”

The firm hopes to have the rebuilding completed some time next year.

The blaze,which was tackled by more than 60 firefighters, was believed to have started accidentally but was not cooking related.

Hoghton with Wheelton county councillor Andrew Snowden, a customer of the inn, said: “Having seen the damage and the remaining buildings, I am not surprised it will have to be demolished.

“It is good to hear of the brewery’s commitment to rebuild the pub for the benefit of local people and canal users.”

Thwaites redeployed the 50 staff, who worked there, at other pubs and inns offering vacancies within the chain.

The focal point of the Grill and Grain was a large wood-fire grill in view of customers as well as its own on-site microbrewery, where a range of beer was be specially developed for the inn.

No diners were in the restaurant when the fire broke out on April 12.