Afternoon:
15°c
This was the moment police clashed with partygoers outside a blazing Essex nightclub where Pixie Lott was set to appear.
A man was smashed into a shop window and his head cut in the fracas which happened on the street opposite the Sugar Hut Club, Brentwood, when fire broke out at 7.30pm last night.
Horrified clubbers who had bought tickets to see pop star Pixie Lott at the venue - a favourite with celebrities to include models Jodie Marsh and Danielle Lloyd and footballers Jermaine Defoe and Teddy Sherringham - watched as flames engulfed the roof and top floor of the 500-year-old listed building.
One said: “People had paid for tickets to go into the venue and were angry because nobody was telling them what was going on. Next thing we know, the police had arrived and a man was shouting at them.”
He said officers had been “heavy handed” with one group who refused to leave the area.
But Inspector Shaun Kane, a spokesman for Essex Police, said their response had been “reasonable”.
“On this occasion officers were presented with a situation of public disorder that required them to leave a designated cordoned' area in order to interject and control the situation,” he said.
“Essex Police remains committed to ensuring police actions and arrests are proportionate, necessary and effective in order to install public confidence and deliver the lawful service to the community.
“Reasonable and necessary force used by police officers is that which is only absolutely necessary and required to prevent any increase of danger or threat to anyone.”
The blaze was extinguished at 10.39pm. Ten fire engines from Essex Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene, where a large section of the building and roof collapsed.
The club and some neighbouring buildings were evacuated and one member of staff from the Sugar Hut bar was taken to hospital suffering from minor smoke inhalation.
Fire incident commander, assistant divisional officer Steve Reynolds, said the fire had started as staff prepared to open the venue to clubbers.
He said an investigation was now underway to determine the cause of the blaze, which is believed to have started on the top floor of the three-storey block.
The Brentwood club, which also has a restaurant on site, would have celebrated its five year anniversary next month.
The Sugar Hut team also have a club in Fulham which is frequented by Princes William and Harry.
A spokesman for the Sugar Hut said Pixie Lott had been expected at the club later to celebrate the success of her record Boys & Girls.
"Pixie was planning to come as a guest to celebrate her new number one record," the spokesman said. "We see her quite a lot here, she is one of our regulars.
"As we speak the fire investigation officers are in the building trying to ascertain what the cause of the fire was."
Reader views (21)
How brave them police where outside sugar hut sunday night hitting women spraying cs gas on a handcuffed victim, after smashing his face all round the road and if the cs gas was not enough thy felt they had to bound his knees and ankles together. He must of been a very violent criminal what has he been charged with DRUNK and DISORDERLY on the spot 80 pound fine. WOW. All this took at least four officers, thank god they are not out there doing anything serious or dangerous like fighting in afganistan pity the thought. Well at least it showed british policing at its best well done essex police now the whole country knows how you police your county. WELL DONE.
- Barrowboy, romford
Jack,
I attended the fire, this as often happens near county borders was an incident attended by LFB as well as ECFRS (ECFRS website mentions this. The initial aerial appliance from Basildon was only working remotely because of a ladder defect, thus no crews were in the cage. The LFB Officers were approached ot request a similar (2007 model) aerial from LFB bu tthe nearest from Dagenham was on a call. Tottenham had another type of aerial, not suitable so in the end another Essex aerial attende dform Southend... this time, the crew could go up in the cage and coudl actually see what they were doing, the aerial from Basildon was then made up and left the scene. FYI all LFB and most other UK aerials have had a remote control capability since 1991, the two exxex Aerials (1992 & 94 models) had this facility as did all of LFB's 1991 fleet that have now been replaced with newer vehicles in 2002 & 2007...again all with remote operability and camera's on the new ones.
So, your point?
- Steve, London, England
Heavy handed police (watch the brave essex police c.s. a man already restrained and handcuffed very brave as for the club 2nd rate chav magnet
- Pinkybrown, Brentwood
I agree that the police were there to control the situation but for a police officer to violently hit a young lady on the side of her head (as shown on the news tonight) is absolutly disgraceful and is completly shocking a shouldn't be aloud!
- Parker Bird, Brentwood
Matt, I was waiting for the replies from enraged firefighters. Put it this way contrast what happened recently in Dean Street with this Brentwood fire. LFB could easily have used remote control monitors but chose to put a man up there. As it was, it was a long time before they even deployed one. Look at the sequence of photographs and it was some time. In Brentwood they deployed 2 on the same side in short order. The public inquiry into Southwark will no doubt canvass opinion as to the policy used by LFB there.
The policy documents from LFB make it clear they have no enthusiasm for high platform vehicles as they are involved in more traffic accidents. This is why we are seeing more low tech stuff that can't reach when there are plently on the market that can.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey
One said: “People had paid for tickets to go into the venue and were angry because nobody was telling them what was going on."
Maybe the smoke, flames and the fire engine might have been a clue.
- C George, South London
Jack Spratt, you'll notice from the article that a large portion of the 500 year old listed building and roof collapsed, ie. the building is lost. The reason for tackling the blaze in this way is that the officer in charge would have recognised the risk of collapse and implemented a defensive firefighting plan. The only way to save any buildings is to enter the building, where it can be done without undue risk to firefighters, and tackle the fire offensively. Have you studied any fire service manuals or have you any firefighting experience?
- Matt, London
The crucial question is... why was Sven there ? and is that the latest in a long line of brunette women he's been associated with sitting on the floor...?
- El Tel, Brentwood
The place was a dive anyway, frequented by Wanna Be's mostly.. only source of entertainment we found from it was watching said wanna be's coming out at closing time! and for the record..Holding back on letting people in, only one staff member inhaling smoke, the room where the fire started had no-one in it and was not going to be in use either so how did the fire start???
- Sammy, Brentwood
Following the Sugar Hut Club disappointment (tragedy?) - anyone for chavs' delight and chips with a green shoots starter at the local greasy spoon?
- Ted, London
Please visit the Essex Fire Brigade website and see seriously good fire fiighting techniques. They were using remote control aerial platforms and blasting water in. I have yet to see this technology which has been around since before 1980 used in London where they persist in sending men up who are a hindrance in real terms. Next time there is a Southwark fire send for Essex, they could have put the fire out quicker than London even travelling the distance from Brentwood. Sad to say I am not joking.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey
Angry because no one was telling them what was going , oh the poor loves , let's see fire engines flames turntable ladders , any more clues needed.!
- Dave Mcc, France
Let our police loose please, un cuff them and let them police with proper authority.
- Brian, Wiltshire
Keith, you need to replace "Pixie Lott" with "Gordon Brown"
- Artfuldodger128, LONDON
The clubs around here are so chav, you see they arrive drunk and leave on stretchers most still have to get up for school in the morning. Was always going to happen, I have often seen the mums waiting across the road in the Chelsea taxis. Will happen again, horrible place to go clubbing avoid like the plague.
- Gary, Brentwood
If I had to watch Pixie Lott I think I might have to riot too
- Keith Price, Luton England
" (the venue) a favourite with models Jodie Marsh and Danielle Lloyd, and footballers Jermain Defoe and Teddy Sherringham — to help firemen manage the angry crowds."
Yes, it really is (or was) that grim.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County
What - the police were heavy handed by not allowing them to enter a building where there was a fire? People were angry because nobody was telling them what was going on?!!! I think smoke and flames might have been a good indication. No wonder we have more and more elf and safety regulations every day, they are there to protect people with no common sense.
- Patricia, LONDON
Next we'll be hearing about how one of them suffered a miscarriage as a result. I'm sorry, but if the police ever told me to move on, I'd move on. And they were well within their rights to do so if there was a fire underway in the building. If they'd left the partygoers in danger they'd have been slated - instead they tried to evacuate them and they're slated! Some people just don't deserve the help of the emergency services.
- Jc, London
How many people from Essex does it take to recognise a situation of extreme danger ??
Quite a lot by the look of it - Doh !
- James, City of London
Standby for all the anti police and misinformed comments from the armchair experts about police brutality and so on. Had the police not acted these same clever souls would be complaining about that, too.
- H Morgan, London
