The fire outside a restaurant and nightclub complex under the Croydon Flyover on Thursday night is under investigation, possibly as a case of arson.
Back in business: Thursday night’s fire did not stop the Memory Box opening for the weekend
Inside Croydon reported this week on the blaze that needed 60 firefighters to get under control on Thursday night, as the emergency services also had to remove potentially explosive gas cylinders.
With smoke billowing up and over the six-lane road over the Flyover, at ground level, Croydon High Street had to be closed for several hours while the emergency services carried out their urgent tasks.
No one was hurt in the incident, which the London Fire Brigade immediately said would be subject to investigation.
The Memory Box cocktail bar, on the corner with Whitgift Street, is part of the hospitality businesses on the site, alongside the Ponte Nuovo restaurant and Fun House nightclub.
Despite the obvious distress and concern caused by the fire, they were open for business again by Friday evening.
But the Memory Box’s management did issue a statement, suggesting that the fire had been caused deliberately, by a person or persons unknown setting light to a disused refrigerator in the store and parking area behind their building.
Flyover fire: smoke billowed up and over the busy A232 road on Thursday evening
“We are extremely upset to announce that last night someone recklessly set an abandoned fridge alight that was leaning against our building,” they said on the Memory Box’s Facebook page.
“Unfortunately, the fire escalated quickly to our outside storage area at the back of the building.
“Thankfully no one was hurt and we thank the amazing Fire Brigade who managed to stop the fire entering our building.
“The incident is being investigated by the police.”
And in the post, issued on Friday, they added, “We will be open today as normal and would love for you to join us for a drink!”
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
