“I was simply trying to fulfill what I believed was necessary for my role in this situation.”

“I have always recognized the significance of pubs; they are often pivotal during crises in British society.”

Joshua Burton, the owner of the Five Bells pub in New Cross, made the decision to keep his establishment open throughout the night to provide shelter for those displaced by a fire that erupted.

Approximately 100 firefighters, along with 15 fire engines, responded to the incident that took place in a flat block in New Cross on August 20th.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the fire left many residents without homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported that 34 residents were taken to Wavelengths Leisure Centre in Deptford, which served as a temporary shelter during the night, in addition to a nearby hotel.

In addition to these options, the Five Bells pub also transformed into an emergency refuge that night.

Remaining open until 6:00 AM BST on Thursday, the pub offered a safe space for those affected, and allowed firefighters to use the restrooms throughout the night.

Joshua explained to the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “My usual closing time is 11 PM, but seeing the fire’s persistence and the number of people here, mostly from the flats, I thought, ‘I’ll just keep the doors open.’ Not as a service, but simply to provide a refuge.”

As the night progressed into the early hours, the pub’s power went out twice. In response, Joshua lit candles and managed to set up a speaker to play music to help ease the tension among the residents.

He recounted, “It was around 6 AM when I confirmed that Wavelengths was officially designated as the refuge center, so I arranged taxis for everyone.”

“I’m not sure if they had their bank cards with them,” he added, “They offered to reimburse me, but I told them it was fine, so I took care of the taxis and got them to Wavelengths.”

Councillor Liam Shrivastava, representing New Cross Gate ward, noted that the community’s response to the fire has been commendable.

Together with fellow ward councillor Aisha Malik-Smith, he has been assisting affected residents, ensuring that their temporary housing meets their needs.

Cllr Malik-Smith shared, “These residents have lost both their homes and all their belongings, resulting in a significant disruption.”

“It’s incredibly distressing for many families, so our goal is to support them in any way we can, making the entire process and related paperwork as straightforward as possible to alleviate their burden.”

The LFB reported being alerted to the fire on Wednesday, August 20th, at 4:27 PM, and had it under control by 6:48 AM the following morning.

Damage occurred to part of the first floor and most of the second floor, with the roof of the building also being destroyed.

The fire is suspected to be accidental, although the precise cause remains under investigation.