Petrol-bombed pub to rise from the ashes

Marr Lodge, a popular village pub on the outskirts of Doncaster, is set to relaunch, following an arson attack which forced its closure in September 2024. 

The business, owned and operated by pub group Pub People, suffered severe structural damage due to a petrol bomb attack late last year.

Following nine months of negotiations, planning and design work, contractors are now on site and gearing towards a late summer reopening, marking a remarkable turnaround for one of the group’s most community-cherished venues.

"It was the same day we had reopened our biggest-ever refurbishment at Dukeries Lodge in Mansfield," says Pub People managing director Andy Crawford. "The contrast couldn’t have been more stark when we received a middle-of-the-night call about the fire at Marr Lodge. It was one of the most chilling days of my career. But owing to the fast response of the emergency services, there were mercifully no casualties."

Repairing the damage 

Marr Lodge suffered severe structural damage due to a petrol bomb attack, which the business says resulted in trauma and ongoing disruption to the pub’s staff and customer base. 

The £1.2m reinstatement work is being led by Doncaster-based Togel Contractors Ltd, with James Mellor, head of property at Pub People, overseeing delivery.

"We’re deep into roofing, structural and M&E works now," says Mellor. "This has been one of the most complex reinstatements we’ve taken on and I’m proud of how our teams and contractors have worked together to make it happen."

Alongside its daytime carvery offering, the new Marr Lodge is set to relaunch with a refreshed interior, a more premium food-led offer and a renewed focus on experience-led dining, targeting both loyal patrons and new family-focused guests.

Pub People has an estate of 40 community and food-led freehold pubs across the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

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