A devastating fire that tore through a nightclub in an upmarket Swiss ski resort on New Year's Day, killing at least 47 people and injuring 115, has taken a new turn with the revelation that the venue's owners have links to the United Kingdom.
UK Education and a Tragic Blaze
The inferno erupted at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana in the early hours of 1 January 2026. The bar was owned by Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica, powerful figures in the local Swiss hospitality industry. Investigations into their background have revealed that Jessica Moretti, 40, once studied at the University of Glamorgan in south Wales. The couple, who are originally from Corsica and have a son, first visited the French-speaking resort as tourists in 2011 before opening their "elegant" bar in December 2015.
The nightclub, which was housed in a previously abandoned building, was reportedly one of the few in the area that admitted revellers aged 16 and over. It was packed with New Year's celebrants when the fire broke out. Jessica Moretti was allegedly inside at the time and suffered burns to her arm, while her husband was working at another of their establishments. Sources describe the couple as being "completely in shock."
Witnesses Point to Champagne Sparklers
While the official cause remains under a complex investigation, multiple witness accounts and emerging footage point to a horrifying sequence of events. Witnesses have told media, including BFM TV, that the blaze began when champagne sparklers ignited decorative material on the ceiling. One account described a waiter standing on another's shoulders with a birthday candle close to the ceiling, which then caught fire "in a couple of minutes."
The resulting panic was exacerbated by the building's layout. Police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the fire started in the basement, and a crush occurred as people tried to escape via a single, narrow staircase. "We managed to escape just in time," one woman said, describing a huge surge in the crowd.
Desperate Search and Mounting Questions
In the aftermath, desperate parents have been scouring the resort for missing teenagers. Eighteen-year-old Rayan Guiren stated, "Many parents have been searching for their children." The tragedy has cast a shadow over the Morettis' previously praised reputation. Lauded in local media as a hardworking and energetic husband-and-wife team who expanded their business to other restaurants, they now face serious questions about fire safety at Le Constellation.
The couple, who also completed programmes at the International University of Monaco and Montpelier Business School, are at the centre of an investigation to determine how the fire spread so rapidly with such catastrophic consequences. The Swiss authorities have cautioned that establishing the exact cause will take time.
