Owner of LGBT+ nightclub grateful nobody hurt, but says ‘institution’ destroyed
The owner of a fire-ravaged LGBT+ nightclub in Milton Keynes has said he is grateful that nobody was hurt, but announced the “institution” had been completely destroyed.
Firefighters were still tackling the blaze at Pink Punters in Bletchley on Monday morning, after police were called just after 2am on Sunday as a fire spread through the club. Scores of partygoers and residents in the Watling Street area were evacuated by staff and no injuries were reported, Thames Valley Police said. A 51-year-old man from the Buckinghamshire city was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody, the force said. As smoke continued to rise from the building, witnesses said when the structure started to burn, they feared a repeat of the blaze at a ski resort in Switzerland earlier this year, in which 41 people were killed. Firefighters in cherry pickers could be seen hosing down the wreckage outside the Pink Punter nightclub. While the facade of the club remains, the roof has been completely destroyed and the charred interior was visible. Frank McMahon, owner of Pink Punters, said: “Worldwide, nightclub fires have too often resulted in a devastating human toll. We can all be profoundly thankful that this was not the case here. “The building has been lost, but lives were protected, and that matters more than anything. “Pink Punters is more than a building. It is an institution, built over many years by a wide family of staff, customers, friends and supporters. “We are heartbroken, but we are also grateful. Grateful that everyone is safe. Grateful for the people who acted so quickly. Grateful for the love being shown to us. “Pink Punters has always been about people, not just bricks and mortar. The building may be gone, but the family, the memories, the spirit and the love remain. “And let me say this clearly: Pink Punters will be back.” Janet, who has been to the club many times before, came to see the wreckage on Monday morning and said she was devastated at the loss. She said: “It is so iconic and important for the local community, it’s so safe and it’s such a lovely place, even the security were so friendly. “We are so fortunate that they had their procedures in place for fires and everyone got out safe. We have all seen that horrific situation in Switzerland when all of those kids were burned, we are so lucky that no-one was hurt. “You’ve got to hand it to the management of the place.” She added: “I am devastated but whatever the motive, the city will turn out for the community.” On January 1, a fire at a bar in ski resort Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killed 41 people and injured more than 100. Alifa Khanom, 34, had moved into the estate across the road from the Pink Punters nightclub the day before the fire. She said: “We only moved in on Friday night, and then around 2 o’clock Sunday morning, we heard a lot of noises, and thought it must be the club, but then it got louder and louder and I thought something’s not right. “So my husband looked out the window and he came running to the bedroom shouting ‘oh my god there’s a fire’.” Ms Khanom was worried about the smoke as the firefighters continued to tackle the blaze. She said: “The flames were huge and the smoke was so thick. “I was really worried because all you could smell was the smoke, so I couldn’t let the kids out, but it was even getting inside the house so I had to shut all the windows and keep everyone in.” Len, who lives nearby, said the flames were around 30ft high. He said: “I came down in the morning at around 9am and the firefighters were still trying to put it out. The flames were around 30ft still.” Len said the club is always full and people come from all over to the venue. He said: “It’s always packed. On a Friday and Saturday night, people come from all over the area, it’s a real hub.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub