A man has been arrested and charged over a fire at the Royal Exchange Hotel in Marrickville on Tuesday that endangered 20 people inside and killed the pub cat, Whiskey.
Police and fire services were called to the Lewis Hotels pub in the early hours, evacuating close to two-dozen staff and patrons, and two upstairs residents, from the burning building.
No-one was injured, but several were treated for smoke inhalation.
Witnesses saw a man running from the site, down Garners Ave, and a bottle of accelerant was later found.
Following inquiries, police arrested a 54-year-old man on Thursday morning, at a unit in Newtown.
He was taken to Newtown Police Station, where he was charged with destroy/damage property with intent to endanger life, and dishonestly obtain property by deception. No further explanation has yet been provided.
Lewis Hotel group bought the Royal Exchange in 2019 and executed an extensive renovation around six months’ ago.
The fire caused extensive damage to two levels, but NSW Fire and Rescue report parts of the building remain intact and the Royal “hasn’t been destroyed”.
The man was denied bail, to face Newtown Court on Friday.
