You can’t keep a good pub down: Uki pub to be rebuilt
THE people of Uki are devastated to have lost their iconic pub but probably the most hurt are publicans Geoff and Lexie Brown.
The husband and wife have held the lease for the Mount Warning Hotel for five years.
A brave faced Mr Brown, who had only a few hours sleep, said the pub was fully insured and would be rebuilt.
"We haven't properly discussed it but it's going to be re-built," he said.
"We're not sure yet if it's going to be the old style or a new tavern, we've got to sort it out."
The Brown's have three years left on their lease.
"It's just one of those things that's happened," he said.
"The town will be lost without it.
"It was the community meeting place and anything that happened in the town happened there."
The publican said the historic site had gone down with a lot of memorabilia inside including years of historical photographs.
"We're devastated," he said.
"It's going to take a long time to have it really sink in.
"It was my life.
"It was just important everyone got out and nobody was hurt."
Mr Brown's son, who spent time in hospital for smoke inhalation after the fire, discovered the sparking electrical box at about 10.30pm on Saturday night.
"We grabbed the fire extinguishers but it was too great," Mr Brown said.
"We just couldn't do it.
"We just got out and saved ourselves before it dramatically went up the stairs and off like a bomb."
The situation was made even more traumatic when he recieved wake up call to be told the pub was up in flames again on Sunday night.
Although the wooden pub is completely destroyed, Mr Brown said his favourite memory from the pub was the people.
"They supported the place very well," he said.
"It's such a shame."
The Brown's have received offers to keep the business going at the sporting ground, but Mr Brown said he had a lot to think about it.
Pub owners, Kim and Brett Watson from Coutts Crossing, are flooded-in on their property and unable to assess the damage with their own eyes.
