The Smugglers in St Margaret’s will be closed for food until next week following a kitchen fire.

Firefighters were called to the pub in the High Street at 11.30pm yesterday after staff who were locking up discovered the blaze.

Owner Peter Killin said: “There were staff here, they were just locking up when they noticed the smell.

“They investigated it, found it and called the fire service straight away.”

Three appliances attended.

Crew manager Adrian Hawkins said: “It was a fire in the ventilation ducting in the kitchen. There was a build up of fat and it caught alight.

“We sent our breathing apparatus crew in there to put it out. Nobody was injured.”

Firefighters left the scene around 1pm.

It is thought about 30% of the kitchen has been damaged.

Mr Killin said: “It was quite minor but the smoke got everywhere.

“Every one of the firefighters gave immaculate service. They were very quick to respond and were very helpful. I take my hat off to them.

“The kitchen will be closed for about a week to allow us to refurbish it all. We hope to reopen it next Friday or Saturday.”

The pub’s bar remains open.