Suspected arson attack sees abandoned Jarrow pub go up in flames
Police are treating a fire in a former Jarrow pub as arson after it caught fire overnight.
A suspected arson investigation has begun after emergency services were called to a permanently closed pub in Jarrow.
On the evening of Thursday, May 14 Northumbria Police and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were made aware of an incident involving a fire at the former Johnnie’s Bar on Walter Street to the north of the town centre.
The building backs onto Ellison Road.
Local residents also reported hearing multiple sirens in the nearby area throughout the evening.
The police have confirmed officers are treating the incident as suspected arson. No one was found injured at the scene when they arrived.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Shortly after 8pm yesterday (May 14), we were alerted by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service at a vacant premises on Walter Street in Jarrow.
“Emergency services attended the scene where nobody was found to be injured, and the fire was extinguished a short time later.
“While enquiries are at an early stage, the incident is being treated as suspected arson.
“Anyone with information should send us a direct message on social media or use the live chat and ‘report’ function on our Force website.
“Those unable to contact the Force via the above ways should call 101.
“Please quote reference number: NP-20260514-0981.”
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Spokesperson said: “We can confirm that on Thursday, 14 May, three appliances attended an incident in South Tyneside.
“The emergency call came into our Control Room team at 19:56 and crews from South Shields and Tynemouth Community Fire Stations were despatched to the Jarrow area.
“The incident involved a fire in a former pub building. Firefighters safely extinguished the blaze before leaving the scene shortly before 20:30.”
The vacant building was previously known as The Golden Lion before it became Johnnie’s. The most recent iteration of the site closed in February 2025 in what was described as a “heart-breaking decision” by the team.
Plans were submitted to South Tyneside Council in March 2025 to turn the site into a “day nursery and ancillary accommodation”.