JUST days after fire ripped through The Ram pub villagers have rallied round to ensure it is open for business as usual.
Landlord Philip McAsey was rescued from the Woodchester pub by firefighters after a blaze started in his tumble drier.
The fire caused extensive damage to the ceiling.
But locals were quick to rally round, said Philip. He said: "There was a real Dunkirk spirit."
Local builders Sean Murphy and Wayne Smart, electrician Pete Marmont as well as Stroud Heating and Plumbing were among the experts who dropped everything to come to Philip's aid.
"On Friday and Saturday they rebuilt the ceiling," he said.
"It was absolutely amazing to have it done in two days."
Philip only took the helm at The Ram three months ago and the fire had been a real blow.
But now the kitchen is fully open and the pub serving pints again.
He thanked regulars by holding a St George's Day breakfast.
"We enjoyed a full English breakfast, even complete with spam," he said.
Philip was woken by his smoke alarm at around 3.30am last Wednesday.
He said: "I opened the bedroom door and the flat was full of thick smoke. I thought I was dead for a bit."
The fire service were at the scene within minutes. Firefighters put ladders up to the back window and Philip clambered down.
His cat Bob was able to leap to safety.
The fire appears to have started in a three-month old Indesit tumble drier in an upstairs storeroom.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue sent three fire engines to the incident.
Fire crews went into the smoke-filled pub using breathing apparatus.
"The resident was very lucky as he had a smoke alarm installed which alerted him and allowed him to dial 999," said Watch Commander Stait.
"If no smoke alarm had been fitted the outcome of this incident could have been very different."
