A man will appear in court next week charged with arson over the fire that almost destroyed the world famous Star Inn at Harome.
Parts of the 14th century pub and restaurant near Helmsley were ‘reduced to ashes’ by the blaze, which tore through the building on the night of 24 November 2021.
Fire investigators then sifted through the damage to find the cause, later saying it had been started deliberately.
The damage caused to the Star was put in excess of £2 million.
Today a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “A 28-year-old man from Helmsley has been charged with committing arson with recklessness as to whether property would be destroyed or life endangered.”
Charles Birkett is due to appear at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The Star Inn has regularly featured in lists of the best restaurants and gastropubs since the arrival of chef and patron Andrew Pern more than 25 years ago.
After painstaking restoration work, the Star reopened last October.
No one was injured in the blaze, which saw more than 40 firefighters fight to save the building.
The Star at Harome has won almost every award going, including a Michelin star and Top UK Gastropub.
It was the second blaze at the North Yorkshire restaurant group. In November 2018, a fire at the Star Inn The City in York caused severe damage to the kitchen and roof.
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