Nick Nairn restaurant fire: Diners flee ‘terrible’ blaze at TV chef’s kitchen

Celebrity chef says all staff and customers safe after dozens of firefighters sent to incident

Fire crews were called to tackle the blaze at Nick’s on Henderson Street in Bridge of Allan, Scotland, on Saturday night (PA)

Diners were forced to flee a “terrible fire” at a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Nick Nairn.

Fire crews were called to the scene at Nick’s on Henderson Street in Bridge of Allan, Scotland, at 8.17pm on Saturday, and found a “well-developed” fire in the kitchen.

More than 30 firefighters worked to tackle the blaze.

Pictures and video footage shared on social media showed smoke and flames pouring out of the building in the town near Stirling.

However, no major injuries have been reported from the incident, which led to six fire engines and a command support unit being sent to the scene.

“Just to let you know, terrible fire at Nicks BofA tonight, but thankfully all staff and customers unhurt,” Mr Nairn wrote on Twitter.

“Huge respect and thanks to the emergency services who were incredible.”

In a later post, the chef added that he was “overwhelmed” by the support he had received following the blaze.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We got a call at 8.17pm to a building alight. We sent two crews from Dunblane and Tillicoultry.

“On arrival crews confirmed this was a well developed fire within the kitchen and requested further attendance.”

Further appliances and a command support unit were then sent to the scene, with two people treated for smoke inhalation.

Mr Nairn rose to fame in the 1990s when he won a Michelin star for his first restaurant Braeval and became a regular chef on the BBC’s Ready Steady Cook programme.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Nick’s on Henderson Street said that it was thankful for the “extraordinary amount of support” it had received over the fire.

“After an eventful evening, we want to let you all know every staff member and customer are safe and well and we want to thank the extraordinary amount of support and love we’ve felt from so many people - it’s so appreciated,” the restaurant said.

Additional reporting by PA