Beloved abandoned pub in Falmouth is the latest building to fall victim to the flames
Flames raged on, uninterrupted over the night on Tuesday 11th November, flaring through the old 18th Century timber columns of the Boslowick Inn pub, located on the outskirts of Falmouth Town.
Six pumping appliances were mobilised, after the fire was established at 21:32. An aerial ladder platform, command unit and support vehicle were also engaged in the battle to beat the blaze.
Lasting over six hours, the fiery inferno was extinguished by 3:50 in the morning, following first responders treating the scene, stationed over the county.
First responders arrive at The Bosi (Image: Helston Community Fire Station)
According to Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s Ian Laurie, the fire upon arrival was already “well developed”, but there have been no leads to how it started. He says the fire needed “heat, fuel and oxygen”, factors which accelerated the escalation.
Laurie adds, “If you look nation-wide, you do unfortunately get a lot of derelict buildings attracting attention from kids messing around and rough sleepers.”, and that it is on the property owners to properly secure the premises.
In 2022, Odo Developments planned to build ten homes after snapping up the property, when the inn’s taps stopped flowing months prior. However, the proposed demolition was refused by Cornwall Council.
Two years later, as the building became deserted in time, the pub was branded a ‘ticking timebomb’ by residents and the fire department based on routine checks.
Things started looking up in 2025. A new pitch for four dwellings and six homes was approved by the Council, under certain conditions on the 4th November. Exactly one week later, the structure was razed to the ground.
Councillor Dean D Evans commented on how members of his community are feeling:
“I think they’re devastated, but frankly they are not surprised – this has been a tragedy waiting to happen for some time.” he further states, “It was the last pub out the town centre, we now have no pubs in Boslowick.”
Evans voices how the regular hotspot had been empty and deteriorating from the inside for a while. “It was something that was on people’s minds, never expected it to happen. It is a shock to see it’s finally gone.”
Firemen cooling the flames with their hoses (Image: Mullion Community Fire Station)
It’s been revealed that the cause of The Bosi’s standing remnants ruination may never be known, as the ‘blaze was so intense’, evidence at the scene could have been buried under the rubble and smoke.
“Due to the roof and floors collapsing in, and then the amount of water we put in there, some of the evidence may never get found because of the damage of firefighting actions.”, fireman Laurie discloses.
Cornwall and Devon Police have said they are investigating the case and treating it as ‘suspicious’. No further details about the investigation’s status have been released.