A restaurant fire, which is believed to have started in the cellar, has destroyed a 17th Century listed building in Bury St Edmunds.
The incident at Cupola House, which houses Italian restaurant chain Strada, started at around 9pm on a busy Saturday night (16th June).
Suffolk Fire and Rescue said the fire swept quickly through the building, which is spread across five-storeys and was built in the 1600s. It was grade one listed and the Strada restaurant had only recently opened after refurbishment.
The fire caused substantial structural collapse at the rear of the building forcing the unsupported front half of the building to buckle.
In a statement, Suffolk Fire and Rescue said staff at the Strada restaurant acted quickly: “Due to the swift action of Strada staff, the 120 people inside the restaurant at the time the fire was detected had all been evacuated swiftly and safely by the time firefighters arrived.”
Work is already underway with St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Strada, the owner of the building and neighbouring businesses to deal with the longer term consequences of the fire.
County Councillor Colin Spence, cabinet member for Public Protection said: “This is a real tragedy and an iconic building has been very badly damaged by this fire. This is undoubtedly devastating for local people, visitors and the town as a whole. I am grateful that the immediate action of Strada staff ensured that everyone was evacuated safely and quickly and the professional and swift action of firefighters stopped the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.
“Due to the severity of the fire and the collapse of the building, a number of restrictions have been put in place to ensure that members of the public are not put at risk – I’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. We are working with colleagues from St Edmundsbury Borough Council to ensure that disruption to businesses, residents and visitors is kept to an absolute minimum.”