Update: Fire at Andrew Pern's Michelin-starred restaurant The Star at Harome treated as arson

The fire that reduced Andrew Pern's Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms The Star at Harome 'to ashes' is being treated as arson, following a joint examination by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service called to put it out on Wednesday night and crime scene police officers.

Video footage shared widely showed the restaurant ablaze and the fire services at work.

While they worked tirelessly from when they were first called in at 10pm on Wednesday - with 45 firefighters on site in the middle of the night - until Thursday morning, the fire is said to have torn through the 14th century building's recently re-thatched roof and destroyed much of its supporting frame. 

Thankfully, nobody was hurt in the incident, and Andrew said his team were quick to react, praising them and the local community for being "all hands on deck" when it broke out, but that it would be "a long run" before the restaurant was restored and able to reopen.

A spokesperson for the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC that its investigators had examined the site in conjunction with the police, drawing the conclusion that arsonists had started it, appealing to anyone with information to contact them or the CrimeStoppers organisation, who are able to process claims anonymously.

On the night of the fire, the chef owner of the restaurant Tweeted that the restaurant "won't be open for a while" as it was "reduced to ashes with The Star on fire and still burning." 

It’s been a long night so far…..I’m afraid we won’t be open for a while as we are reduced to ashes with The Star on fire and still burning, residents please call after 9 am . Thanks ⁦@chefandrewpern⁩ 🥲 pic.twitter.com/gULMzVTPQd

— The Star at Harome (@TheStaratHarome) November 25, 2021

Andrew described Thursday as an "awful day" when it became clear just how much damage had been caused to the restaurant. 

"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," he said.