A fire at the Pink Punters LGBT+ nightclub in Milton Keynes has been ruled accidental, with the owner describing the incident as a 'painful reminder' of the importance of safety protocols.
The blaze broke out at the Watling Street venue at around 2am on Sunday, April 26, prompting a swift evacuation of partygoers and nearby residents by staff.
Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service conducted a joint investigation and confirmed that the fire was accidental. A 51-year-old man from Milton Keynes who was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life has been eliminated from enquiries.
Chief Superintendent Emma Baillie, Local Commander for Milton Keynes, said: 'We understand that an incident like this can be concerning for the local community, but I want to reassure people that following a thorough joint investigation with BFRS, we have found no evidence of any criminality. The fire is believed to have been accidental in nature, and thankfully no one was injured. I would also like to commend the staff at Pink Punters, who worked quickly and effectively to ensure everyone was safely evacuated.'
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuffley of BFRS added: 'Pink Punters is a long-established and well-known venue, important to many people across Milton Keynes and the wider community. We appreciate how worrying this will have been for many people. Our specialist fire investigation team has supported Thames Valley Police by working carefully at the scene to fully understand the cause of the fire and establish it as accidental. Thanks to the swift actions of the site staff and firefighters, everyone was able to leave the building safely, and the fire was prevented from spreading to other buildings.'
Frank McMahon, owner of Pink Punters, expressed relief that the fire was not a hate crime: 'Following the devastating fire at Pink Punters over the weekend, we are now able to confirm that police have ruled out arson. We are therefore profoundly relieved to know that this was not arson, not a deliberate attack, and not a hate crime. No matter how hard any business works to prevent incidents, accidents can still happen. What matters most in those moments is how people respond. On this occasion, our Fire Wardens, security team, management team and wider staff acted quickly, calmly and professionally. As a result, hundreds of people were moved to safety, and no staff or customers were injured. This is the single most important outcome in this incident. Pink Punters has always placed safety at the heart of its operation. The building was lost, but lives were protected, and that remains the most important fact of all. This incident is a painful reminder that even with strong safety systems in place, rare and unforeseen circumstances can still occur.'
Police have confirmed that the fire at Pink Punters is not believed to be linked to a separate fire at St Martin's Church in Watling Street on April 24, which remains under investigation. Authorities continue to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or report online, quoting investigation reference number 43260201431.
