Fire tears through iconic UB40 Eagle and Tun pub in Digbeth

The legendary Eagle and Tun pub in New Canal Street in Birmingham – which famously appeared on a UB40 album cover – is reportedly battling a fire tonight as local streets have been closed by police.

Only days after a fire at the African Village restaurant and bar (also a former pub) in Perry Barr, reports have come in from West Midlands Police and Fire Service of the Digbeth venue being set ablaze.

West Midlands Fire Service were called to the scene of the fire, on the corner of New Canal Street and Banbury Street, around 9pm on Thursday night.

A team of eighteen firefighters from three different stations battled to control the fire at the famous pub.

A  man was also reportedly rushed to hospital as the fire ripped through the building.

A West Midland Fire Service spokesman said:

“One man who was homeless but allowed to sleep inside was treated for severe burns and taken to hospital.

“A man in his 50s who was inside was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

“Officers are working alongside the fire service to establish the cause of the blaze.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service issued the following statement regarding the incident:

“On arrival we discovered one patient, a man.

“He was treated for burns and smoke inhalation before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.”

The iconic pub recently lost a battle to save it from being demolished ahead of a major redevelopment of the area by HS2.

The Eagle and Tun was once frequented by world-renowned Birmingham reggae and pop band UB40 who also shot the music video for ‘Red Red Wine‘ at the location. The cover image for the band’s ‘The Best of UB40’ album featured a photo taken inside the pub.

Ed Sheeran was another musician who recently shot a music video at the pub in August 2019.

Members of UB40 had appealed to Sheeran to try and save the historic pub, which opened its doors when Queen Victoria still sat on the throne.

The historic pub closed down on Wednesday and the interior was being stripped away ahead of the building being demolished and redeveloped by HS2.

The area around The Eagle and Tun has been cleared away over the last couple of years and work is now moving forward with momentum.