Burned-down Northampton pub '˜will be rebuilt by end of year'

The popular matchday pub was badly damaged when a faulty plug socket caused a fire, with flames spreading onto nearby cardboard then the rest of the building.

Although a reopening date has not been set, a spokesman for Green King said: ““We are working hard to reopen the Sixfields as soon as possible following the significant fire damage in early December and hope that this major rebuilding project will be finished in late 2016.”

Living quarters of landlord Matt Skolfield and his family were destroyed and the subsequent closure forced bar staff to be sent to work in other Greene King pubs.

Greene King said some of them could return to the Sixfields, as Mr Skolfield had hoped would be the case eventually.

The spokesman said “The vast majority of team members have been redeployed and we will look to give as many of them as possible the chance to work again at the pub when it reopens should they wish to return.”

He added: “We are sorry to our regular guests for the inconvenience caused and also regret having missed such a successful period for our neighbours, the town’s football club.”

Sixty firefighters were at the building at the height of December’s fire, which was made worse due to high winds.