The owner of a Hampstead pub praised firefighters' speed after a blaze destroyed an upstairs kitchen.

The London Fire Brigade was called to a blaze above The Roebuck pub just after 10.30pm, on Saturday March 30, during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

The fire was dealt with by 12.06am, but a shared kitchen serving five studio flats used as staff accommodation was destroyed.

Three women left the building before the brigade arrived and were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.

The Royal Free Hospital is directly opposite the pub in Pond Street.

Pub company Youngs, which runs The Roebuck, said the team was safely evacuated and was able to serve customers the following day (March 31).

Ham & High: A staff kitchen above The Roebuck, in Pond Street, Hampstead, was destroyed by fireA staff kitchen above The Roebuck, in Pond Street, Hampstead, was destroyed by fire (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

The pub is now operating as usual.

A spokesperson for Youngs Brewery said: "There was a small fire in the staff accommodation above the pub on Saturday evening.

"All (the) team and customers were evacuated safely and the fire brigade dealt with the fire very quickly. 

"The pub reopened later on Sunday and fortunately there has been very little impact to our customers as the pub itself was not affected."

Four engines and around 25 firefighters from West Hampstead and Kentish Town fire stations tackled the blaze.

Crews used one of the brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders as an observation tower.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.