'Pink Punters will be back' says owner of Milton Keynes club destroyed by fire
A 51 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life
Last updated 4 hours ago
The owner of an LGBTQ+ nightclub has spoken out following a devastating fire in Milton Keynes over the weekend.
The fire was discovered shortly after 2am on Sunday (26 April) on an outside balcony.
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said 12 fire crews attended the scene, along with police and South Central Ambulance Service.
The building was safely evacuated, with everyone accounted for.
Police say it is too early to comment on the reason the blaze broke out.
A 51-year-old man from the Buckinghamshire city has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody, police said.
Pink Punters has been running for more than two decades and has dancefloors, an outdoor bar and offers karaoke.
Owner, Frank McMahon said the club has been completely destroyed.
He expressed relief that no staff or customers were harmed. He praised his workforce for their professional conduct in the emergency and thanked the emergency services for their prompt and ongoing efforts:
"My family and I have received literally thousands of messages from well-wishers. Thank you all for your concern, love and support. Please understand that it will be difficult for us to respond to so many messages individually, but every single one means a great deal to us.
"From the Kilrush days through to Pink Punters, and with Pink Punters having celebrated its Silver Anniversary only last year and still going from strength to strength, this place has been part of our lives, our family and our community for more than three decades.
"Pink Punters is more than a building. It is an institution,
"The building has been lost, but lives were protected, and that matters more than anything.
"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."