Firefighters responded quickly to Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub late Tuesday and contained a fire to one room on the second floor of the Vic West building.
Daniel Atkinson, a deputy fire chief, said alarms sounded at the building, 308 Catherine St., at 11:21 p.m. and smoke was visible outside when firefighters arrived.
Sixteen firefighters, with two fire trucks, a ladder truck and an aerial truck, were at the scene and had the fire under control within one hour, Atkinson said.
He said the fire occurred in an area where renovation work was underway. Damage was confined to one room containing some furniture.
Kitchens and brewery equipment were undamaged.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation but Atkinson said it appears accidental.
The pub and restaurant are closed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Bottled beer, cider, spirits and chocolates are still for sale at the front counter.
Spinnakers owner Paul Hadfield said the fire did not damage the structure of the building. But a floor was charred and water from firehoses leaked through the floor into the ground floor and basement areas. An assessment is underway.
“It will take some time to see the extent of the damage,” he said.
This is the second fire at the landmark Victoria pub in recent years. In November 2016 a fire started in the chimney and spread under the roof.
The pub reopened in nine days offering partial service with damaged areas cordoned off behind temporary walls.
