Charles Birkett to deny arson at The Star Inn at Harome

A 28-year-old man has appeared in court charged with arson after a fire burnt down the one Michelin-starred The Star Inn Harome to the ground causing £2 million worth of damage.

Charles Frederick Birkett of Rosedale Way, Helmsley, indicated that he would be pleading not guilty when he appeared before Scarborough Magistrates on Monday 14 August.

He will now appear before York Crown Court on 18 September.

The fire took place at Andrew Pern's The Star Inn, a historic 14th Century pub located in Harome, North Yorkshire, and resulted in significant damage on November 24, 2021.

The fire, which broke out in the pub, prompted a response from nine fire brigades who diligently battled the flames for hours.

The inferno consumed the pub's intricate 4ft (1.2m) deep straw roof and caused considerable destruction to its foundational framework.

All individuals present in the pub were able to evacuate safely, as confirmed by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue during the incident.

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