An iconic pub in Holcombe was forced to close this morning (Monday September 1) after a fire broke out in its kitchen.

Fire crews were called to the Smugglers Inn, on the road between Dawlish and Teignmouth, at around 11.40am this morning following reports of a kitchen fire.

Three fire engines from Teignmouth, Torquay and Newton Abbot, along with an aerial ladder platform from Torquay, attended the scene.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that there was a fire involving a deep fat fryer in the ground floor kitchen of the premises.

Crews tackled the blaze using two breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet, one safety jet, one thermal imaging camera, two positive pressure ventilation fans, one dry powder extinguisher and two onside wet chemical extinguishers.

There were no injuries reported and the last crew left the scene by 1.13pm, a spokesperson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue confirmed.

No-one from The Smugglers Inn was available for comment. However, in a Facebook announcement, the pub said: ‘We are sorry to announce that due to a kitchen fire we are closed. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, we hope to be open tomorrow evening and are working as hard as possible to make this happen.’

‘Everyone is safe and well,’ The Smugglers added in comments to its Facebook post. ‘The team were amazing and the fire brigade arrived really fast. We are now working our hardest and should be back open for Carvery tomorrow.’

The Smugglers Inn, which is famed for its sea views and carvery, changed hands two years ago after the previous owner, Nick Stentiford, retired.