The owner of a beloved LGBT+ nightclub in Milton Keynes has expressed relief that no one was injured in a devastating fire, while confirming the venue has been completely destroyed. Firefighters battled the blaze at Pink Punters in Bletchley after police were called just after 2am on Sunday. A 51-year-old man from the Buckinghamshire city has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody, Thames Valley Police confirmed.
No Injuries Reported
Dozens of revellers and local residents in the Watling Street area were evacuated by staff, with no injuries reported. As smoke billowed from the building, witnesses feared a repeat of the tragic ski resort fire in Switzerland earlier this year, which claimed 41 lives. Firefighters in cherry pickers were seen dousing the smouldering wreckage, with the roof entirely destroyed and the blackened interior exposed.
Owner's Statement
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."
Community Reaction
Janet, a regular visitor, arrived to survey the wreckage and said she was devastated. She commented: "It is so iconic and important for the local community, it's so safe and it's such a lovely place. 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."
Alifa Khanom, 34, had moved into the estate opposite the club just the day before. 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'." She expressed concern about the smoke as firefighters battled the blaze: "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, a nearby resident, said the flames reached 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." He described the club as a popular destination that draws crowds from across the region, adding: "It's always packed. On a Friday and Saturday night, people come from all over the area, it's a real hub."
