Pictures show devastating aftermath of town centre fire

Fire crews were first alerted to a fire at the now-derelict former Broadwalk club on Bridge Street at 9pm on Sunday evening and rushed to take on the growing blaze.

Locals living nearby were urged to keep their doors and windows closed by both the fire service and Swindon Borough Council as smoke billowed out from the area and began to fill the town centre.

Photos were taken of the building from the nearby David Murray John tower that showed the entire roof had been engulfed in flames. 

A shot of the raging fire in the former Broadwalk club building Photo: Bob Barrett (Image: Bob Barrett)

At the height of the fire's spread throughout the building, more than 40 firefighters from several stations were battling it, and it was only extinguished almost 12 hours later at 7am on Monday. 

Following the fire, the remains of the building, which has sat empty for several years since the nightlife venue closed in 2011, after a brief stint following another three-year closure, were cordoned off by police ad fire tape. 

The adjacent shops were also blocked off, including the British Heart Foundation charity shop, the Regenerate store and Supreme Donner Kebab, but they appear undamaged by the flames.

The door of the derelict town centre property was damaged so it is possible for members of the public to see the devastation inside. The building is full of charred wood from the collapsed ceiling

The nearby King Street has also been cordoned off by police and is guarded by an officer and a police car. This is to stop members of the public from gaining access to the back of the building. 

The cause of the fire is not yet known but at the time witnesses described hearing a 'crackling noise from inside the building and then a bang'. 

One witness, Sanchoo Sancho who manages Power Lounge, also in Bridge Street, said: "We were downstairs and heard a big noise - bang! At first, I thought they were doing a soundcheck upstairs but when I went outside and there was this smell."

This is not the first fire at the Broadwalk building on Bridge Street, Swindon, as it was the target of suspected arson in 2021.

Two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, were arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting the fire with intent to endanger life. However, the 15-year-old was released without charge and the 14-year-old was released pending further investigation.