A fire broke out at the Pink Punters venue in Milton Keynes at 2am on Sunday morning with a large number of partygoers and residents in the Watling Street area evacuated
Police have issued an update after a fire at a LGBT+ nightclub in Milton Keynes.
The blaze broke out at the Pink Punters venue at 2am on Sunday with a large number of partygoers and residents in the Watling Street area safely evacuated by staff.
And now Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service have said the fire was started accidentally.
A Thames Valley Police statement read: “Following a joint investigation with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) into the fire at Pink Punters on Sunday (26 April), third‑party involvement has been ruled out, and the fire is believed to have been accidental.
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“We can confirm the 51-year-old man from Milton Keynes who was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, has been eliminated from our enquiries.”
Chief Superintendent Emma Baillie LCU 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.
“We would like to thank members of the community who came forward and assisted us with our enquiries. Their support and cooperation has been invaluable as we worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
BFRS Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Simon Tuffley, said: “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, and the concern shown is entirely understandable.
“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.
“Incidents like this also underline the challenges faced when fire-related incidents break out in busy indoor venues. 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.
“We will continue to work with businesses and the local community to support them in keeping evacuation plans practical, well‑rehearsed and supported by robust fire safety arrangements. Further advice and information can be found on our website.”
Frank McMahon, Owner of Pink Punters, said: “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.”
And the statement from Thames Valley Police added: “The fire at Pink Punters is no longer believed to be linked to the fire at St Martin’s Church, which occurred in Watling Street at 12.50am on Friday (24/4), or to any other reported fires in the vicinity in recent days. The fire at St Martin’s Church remains under investigation.
“We continue to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information in relation to this fire to contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or report it online, quoting investigation reference number 43260201431.”
