THE Courts fire last week brought back memories for former regulars like me who still have a place in the hearts for the Church Street hostelry.

A cigarette butt is believed to have caused last week's blaze which caused £60,000 worth of damage and shut the pub for up to six weeks.

Leigh Folk Club stalwart Joan Szymanowski tells me she too was gobsmacked when she read the story. Why? Because the pub was ravaged by fire under similar circumstances on March 3 in 1984.

I remember it well, but if past success is anything to go by it will be back, better than ever.