A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at the former Jumpin' Jak's nightclub building on King Street in Wigan, the second blaze at the site in less than a year.
Emergency services attended the scene at around 3.10am on Monday, August 24, after reports of a fire at the building, which also suffered a huge fire in November last year. A police cordon was in place for a large part of the day as crews worked at the scene.
Residents express shock and sadness
Residents of the area have expressed their shock at the second fire and described how sad it has been to see the decline of King Street from its heyday. Mr McNulty, who works in the area and lives within walking distance of the club, said: "It's scary. I walked past it last year and the whole building was all ablaze so it's quite scary that it's happened again."
He added: "When it happened last year, someone said that it was on the top floor and that the roof had caved in. People were saying it was an issue with the electrics and that it was an electrical fire or that someone had dropped a cigarette. But it's strange that it's happened twice; last year and this year. It's good that they've caught someone for it this time, any way."
Mr McNulty said: "I don't really go down that way but Jumpin' Jak's has been open for years. Not many people use King Street now to walk through, it's just for nights out."
Multiple fires in Wigan town centre
The fire comes after another venue in the town centre caught fire earlier this month just a few streets away from Jumpin' Jak's. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson following the fire at the John Bull Chophouse.
A man who works in a bar next to Chophouse said: "It's annoying that multiple fires have broken out here. It's not as if it's just one accidental fire. There's been the two fires at Jumpin' Jak's now and the one at Thwaites the other week. It's scary, to be honest, working here and thinking that there's so many fires happening so close by."
He added: "I'm quite concerned that there's been so many fires in Wigan, and that they're all pubs as well that have been set on fire."
Decline of King Street
Others spoke of how sad it has been to see the centre of Wigan decline over the years. One woman, who used to visit King Street when she was younger, said: "It's gone really downhill, King Street. Back in my day the whole street was full of lawyers offices and really posh buildings. You used to feel like you had to get dressed up just to walk down it. It was all old Victorian buildings. I used to like going down there when I was younger. Now I never go down there. It's really gone downhill, especially with all the fires and everything."
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services attended an address on King Street in Wigan following reports of a fire at around 3:10am this morning (24/08/26). One man, aged 31, has been arrested on suspicion of arson and remains in custody for questioning. Enquiries are ongoing at this time."
A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: "Just after 3am this morning (Monday 24 August), three fire engines from Bolton Central and Atherton fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an old nightclub on King Street, Wigan. Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used breaking in gear, two hose reel jets, and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the fire. Firefighters have been in attendance for around five hours. Crews remain at the scene, checking for hot spots."
