Fire-hit Grade II-listed pub 'back open in months'

George Kang has been working to repair the pub since it was damaged by the fire in September

The landlord of a pub that was badly damaged by fire is on a mission to reopen the building within months.

George Kang has been using his own funds to repair the Greyhound and Punchbowl since the fire in September last year

"I need to open it for the community, I have missed it and it will be like a new beginning when it reopens," he said.

Mr Kang, who has run the pub in Bilston for five years, says plastering, painting and electrical work are all ongoing.

Although the closure of the pub split up the community, he said, people would be brought back together when it reopened.

"I miss the pool teams, the dart teams, meeting new friends, I miss everybody," he added.

However, Mr Kang said he was disappointed by the lack of communication from Heritage England, who were due to give advice on repairs for the outside of the Grade II* listed building.

"The pub would have been repaired faster if it was in a place like Stratford-upon-Avon rather than Bilston."

Historic England said it had visited the site with Wolverhampton Council and continued to provide advice and support to the owner and tenant.

"Seeing any historic building hit by an arson attack is deeply upsetting," the organisation added.

Lesley Wright described the Greyhound pub as her family

Lesley Wright, 55, worked at the pub for more than five years before the fire forced it to close.

She said people constantly stopped her in the street to ask about the progress of the building.

"The Greyhound was more like a family than a pub and when it reopens I feel like my home will reopen," she said.

Mollie Brewster cannot wait for the pub to reopen

Mollie Brewster is another staff member who is looking forward to the day the pub reopens.

"We're keeping the pub alive by talking about it, it gives people hope," she said.

The closure of the Greyhound has had a ripple effect on the community, especially the elderly who would visit the pub for company, Ms Brewster added.

"The fire has devastated me, it's heart wrenching, I really care about the place."

Work has begun on repairing the rooms within the pub

Mr Singh, who runs TheMobyShop across the road from the pub in Bilston, said he has noticed a drop in business at his shop since the Greyhound closed.

"We would always have customers {of the pub} visit our shop when they had a phone issue," he said.

"The pub really needs to reopen to bring life back on to the High Street," he added.