Fire damages a derelict Stourton pub

Wakefield Road in Stourton was closed in both directions this morning (7 May 2024) as fire crews battled a blaze at the Queen’s former public house.

The club has been empty since it closed in 2019 and was already in a poor state of repair, with scaffolding erected to prevent a wall from collapsing.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of the morning, is believed to have started in the basement and affected the ground floor and upper floors. Two fire engines attended from Hunslet, along with appliances from Leeds, Stanningley and Killingbeck. No one was injured.

The site is the subject of a current planning application which seeks to demolish the building and build a Starbucks cafe. The application was submitted in December 2023, the public consultation ended yesterday and a decision is expected soon.

Part of the site still falls within ‘shelter’ for the HS2 (high speed rail) line to Leeds, even though this section was canceled last year. Protected lands could be open to compulsory acquisition. A decision on the need for land for the Northern Powerhouse Rail project is due this summer.

Photo: Google Streetview

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