LGBT+ nightclub owner confirms ‘institution’ destroyed after 'arson attack' leaves building in horror blaze

The owner of a fire-ravaged LGBT+ nightclub in Milton Keynes has expressed his relief that no one was injured, while confirming the beloved "institution" had been utterly destroyed. Firefighters were still battling the blaze at Pink Punters in Bletchley on Monday morning, after police were called just after 2am on Sunday as flames tore through the club. Dozens of revellers and local residents in the Watling Street area were evacuated by staff, with no injuries reported, Thames Valley Police confirmed. A 51-year-old man from the Buckinghamshire city was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody, the force added. As smoke continued to billow from the building, witnesses said that as the structure began to burn, they feared a repeat of the devastating ski resort fire in Switzerland earlier this year, which claimed the lives of 41 people. Firefighters in cherry pickers were spotted dousing the smouldering wreckage outside the Pink Punters nightclub. While the front facade of the club remains standing, the roof has been entirely destroyed and the blackened interior left exposed. 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." Janet, a regular visitor to the club, arrived to survey the wreckage on Monday morning and said she was devastated at the loss. She said: "It is so iconic and important for the local community, it's so safe and it's such a lovely place, even the security were so friendly. 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." On January 1, a blaze at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana claimed the lives of 41 people and left more than 100 injured. Alifa Khanom, 34, had moved into the estate directly opposite the Pink Punters nightclub just the day before the fire broke out. 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'." Ms Khanom expressed concern about the smoke as firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control. She said: "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." Len described the club as a popular destination that draws crowds from across the region. He said: "It's always packed. On a Friday and Saturday night, people come from all over the area, it's a real hub."