A MAN has been charged with arson after the pub he worked at was gutted by fire this weekend.
Head chef and kitchen manager Clinton Stephen, 31, of Church Court, Ashton Hayes, appeared in custody before Flintshire Magistrates court on Tuesday (February 8) alongside the pub’s assistant manager Christopher Drake, 21.
Both are charged with causing half a million pounds worth of damage at The Running Hare at St David’s Park in Ewloe, Flintshire on Sunday (February 6).
They are also charged with damaging a fruit machine and stealing £600 in cash, belonging to Marston’s Inns, which owns the pub.
The pair face further charges charged of perverting the course of justice amid allegations that they gave North Wales Police false information.
At Flintshire Magistrates Court their case was adjourned, and the co-accused will appear at Mold Crown Court next week.
Stephen has been bailed to live at his parents’ address in Tennyson Walk in Blacon, Chester.
Drake, who lived on the pub’s premises, was bailed to an address at Discombe Drive in Meols, Wirral.
The £3m ‘super pub’ was opened on St David’s Park in August.
In the early hours of Sunday, emergency services were called to a fire in the bar area of the pub, which employs about 60 members of staff.
Fire crews raced to the scene after an emergency call at 5.07am.
A joint fire and police investigation was launched into the blaze.
The pub is currently closed and is not expected to open before the start of April.
