‘Crispy oranges – three for £1!’: Tommy Coyle fruit stall reopens after ‘arson attack’

BACK IN BUSINESS: A member of staff at the Barrow Boys fruit stall after the fire

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Tommy Coyle has thanked people in his local community for their “empathy” after an apparent arson attack that destroyed his late father’s fruit stall.

Firefighters were called to the Jameson Street stall at 10.35pm on July 1 and extinguished the blaze, which destroyed the original market stall that had been in the family business for 30 years.

But the business was back up and running that morning – with former boxer Tommy joking it was selling “crispy orange souvenirs from ‘The Great Hull Fire’” – at three for a £1.

He had earlier taken to social media seeking “answers” and appealing for help in finding the culprit.

In a later post on X, formerly Twitter, Tommy said: “Thank you to everyone who has shown empathy today surrounding the situation with my Father’s Fruit Stall… Hull’s a special place and today whilst I was on the estate reminded me exactly why. We’ve got some great people that really care.”

He added: “We’re absolutely gutted to lose all the original market stall what we’ve had 30 years… The stall will remain open and we intend to continue trading the way we always have. Like Barrow Boys. Thank you again everyone.”

INCIDENT: A firefighter tackles the blaze after a suspected arson attack

A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of arson and possession of a Class B drug. He was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage relating to a separate incident. Police are continuing to appeal for information about the fire.