Fire breaks out at Gaolgate Street shop in Stafford town centre

A fire broke out at a shop on Gaolgate Street in Stafford town centre on Tuesday 13 January 2026, prompting a significant emergency response and the temporary closure of the road.

The incident occurred at Cloud Town, located at 28 Gaolgate Street, with the fire believed to have started at around 1.30pm.

Emergency response

In total, seven fire appliances attended the incident, including one Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP), alongside additional support vehicles such as incident commanders, a welfare unit, and police.

Fire crews worked to bring the blaze under control, and the fire has since been fully extinguished. Crews remain on scene assessing the building to ensure there is no further risk.

No injuries have been reported.

Spread of the fire

It is believed the fire started on the ground floor of the building before spreading to the first floor, with slight spread into the roof space.

The neighbouring pub, The Butler’s Bell, is expected to remain closed due to smoke damage inside the property. Smoke is understood to have travelled internally, potentially through ventilation systems.

The building on the other side of Cloud Town is currently unoccupied, though fire spread to that property is being assessed as part of ongoing checks.

Road closures and official statement

Gaolgate Street was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident.

In a statement posted on social media, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“We currently have multiple appliances dealing with a fire at a shop on Gaolgate Street, Stafford. The road is currently closed as we work to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. Nobody has been reported injured. We would urge people to avoid the area while we continue to respond to the incident.”

What happens next

Fire crews are continuing to assess the affected buildings to confirm there is no remaining risk. Further updates are expected once inspections are complete and access arrangements are confirmed for surrounding premises.