A fire broke out above a centuries-old Soho pub where the likes of George Orwell and John Constable used to drink.
Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters rushed to Bateman Street on Wednesday after a fire broke out above the Dog and Duck pub.
The London Fire Brigade said part of the second and third floors were damaged by fire, along with ducting running between the second and fourth floors.
No one was injured in the fire, which is believed to have been accidentally caused by oil overheating in a deep-fat fryer.
Firefighters were called at 3.13pm on Wednesday and crews from Lambeth, Chelsea and Dowgate fire stations were sent to the scene.
A 32-metre turntable ladder was also sent from Paddington Fire Station and was used to observe the fire.
The fire was extinguished in around an hour and a half.
The Grade II listed pub was first built in 17.34 before the modern building was constructed in 1897, according to Nicholson’s who run the venue.
Many of the original features remain, including thousands of glazed tiles and decorative mirrors.
George Orwell is said to have celebrated with a glass of absinthe at the pub when his book Animal Farm was selected for the American Book of the Month Club.
Painters John Constable and Dante Gabriel Rossetti both visited the pub, and pop star Madonna was also once spotted at the pub.
The Prince of Wales also “poured the perfect pint” at the pub during a visit in 2023.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Cooking should never be left unattended on the hob or grill - if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
“Cooking with hot oil can be really dangerous and the risk increases when you start frying food more than once.
“All it can take is for you to become distracted for a few seconds and your cooking oil can quickly go up in flames.
“Never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil and make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil – oil and water are a dangerous mix.
“If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot so turn off the heat and leave it to cool. We also advise using an electronic deep fat fryer if possible – they have automatic temperature controls and are much safer.
"It's also really important to keep the hob, cooker hood and extractor fan clean too – built up fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire."
