A cherished beachfront café in South Devon has been left devastated after a raging early morning fire destroyed much of the property. Tamara Costin, owner of The Beach House at South Milton Sands, expressed deep sorrow over the blaze that erupted in the pre-dawn hours, disrupting what promised to be a bustling season.
Speaking about the tragedy, Costin told the BBC, “It was only just the beginning of what would have been a very busy season,” highlighting the heartbreaking timing of the incident.
The fire broke out around 5:50 a.m. on Friday, May 9. Firefighters arrived to find the building fully engulfed in thick, black smoke and flames. Dramatic images captured the intensity of the blaze as crews worked relentlessly to control the fire.
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Local resident Eliot Eglington, who witnessed the unfolding disaster, recalled: “The fire brigade was already there at that point – it was very much alight.” He estimated the fire began around 5:10 a.m., coinciding with his sighting of fire engines rushing through Kingsbridge shortly after 6 a.m. Eglington described the café as an “old wooden shack” that suffered extensive damage.
Investigations into the fire’s cause are ongoing. Officials have not established any connection to a recent electrical outage reported by The Beach House on May 8 via social media. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Following the incident, a wave of emotional support poured in on social media. Patrons and locals expressed their sympathy and hope for rebuilding. One heartfelt comment read, “So very sorry to hear this. Sincerely hope everyone is alright and that this can be rebuilt soon.” Another added, “So sorry to see this, love this place. Just at the beginning of peak season too.”
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service issued a statement: “A large number of calls were received by Fire Control this morning around 05:50hrs with reports of black smoke coming from the South Milton Sands area. Fire appliances from Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Modbury and Plympton were mobilised. On arrival, crews confirmed one building was well alight.”
The community continues to rally around Tamara and her team as they face the challenging road to recovery.