San Remo pub blaze

The rear of the San Remo Hotel was severely damaged on Tuesday morning after a fire started early in the morning.
A nearby resident was woken by a fire alarm about 2.10am and unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the blaze, said Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Morison from Bass Coast police.

He said it took more than 10 fire units to bring the flames under control within an hour.
“The damage is significant to the rear of the hotel,”.
“Fire had spread from the ground floor to the second floor. The damage is only to the rear: a freezer on the lower floor and an attached section of building then the upper floor section above that.
“Obviously given the age of the building this could have been worse.”

Acting Snr Sgt Morison said the cause of the fire was still being investigated and the cost of the damage would be determined once the fire investigator had completed his inspection.
Owners of the hotel Peter and Colleen Williams, and Daniel Mock, said due to the fire they would not be able to open and their reopening would be announced on social media.
“Thank you to our local emergency services for all their efforts, thankfully no one was hurt and the majority of the pub has come away unscathed,” the Williams said.

The San Remo pub has been in the hands of the same family for three quarters of a century.  
Tom Williams bought the pub in 1941.  
Tom’s son Lyle inherited it and it became known locally as “Lyle’s”. 
He handed it down to his son Peter.  

“The Sanny has extended its hospitality to three prime ministers, a duke or two, an assortment of sports stars, and our cherished locals,” Peter said.