THE Queen's Head at Troutbeck will 'rise from the ashes', owners Robinson's Brewery has confirmed.

The 17th Century inn was partially-destroyed by fire on Friday night, which tore through several bedrooms after beginning in the laundry room.

Around 50 people escaped from the blaze which began shortly before after 9.30pm.

At its height, 11 fire engines from Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Coniston, Milnthorpe, Staveley, Patterdale, Ulverston, Penrith and Barrow – counting nearly 60 fire-fighters and specialist equipment including a water bowser and aerial appliance – were all drafted in to tackle the blaze at the Grade II-listed building.

But Robinson's has confirmed today that it will be rebuilt after the ground floor and the bar area was saved.

Managing Director William Robinson said: “We’re all devastated about what’s happened here but what is important is that everyone made it out alive.

"We are extremely grateful to the staff and fire services for all that they’ve done.

"After all the people were safely evacuated, the firemen worked tirelessly through the night to protect and preserve the most historic areas of the pub for which we and our licensees are extremely thankful."

He said insurance assessors are currently evaluating the site and the exact cause of the fire is still unknown.

He praised staff and the local community for 'rallying round'.

“The staff were superb,” he continued. “They acted with the utmost professionalism in extreme circumstances and we are very pleased to be able to say that no one was injured because clearly, with a fire of this nature, they could have been.”