Fire breaks out at The Ivy restaurant in Manchester city centre

Crews tackle flames on top floor of high-end restaurant

A large fire has damaged The Ivy restaurant in Manchester city centre.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said crews tackled flames on the top floor of the high-end restaurant, which opened in Spinningfields in November last year.

Firefighters were called shortly before 5pm on Friday. Images and video posted to social media showed large flames spewing into the air from a section of roof.

Paul Berry, who works in a building opposite, told the Manchester Evening News: “It looks like there’s an outside balcony area that is absolutely ablaze.

“It looked like it was dropping down to lower floors. It grabbed hold very quickly from nothing, within ten minutes it was ablaze."

The building was evacuated and there have been no reports of any injuries, a fire service spokesman said.

He added: “Four fire engines from Manchester Central, Salford and Stretford and the aerial appliance from Stretford used three breathing apparatus and one hose reel to extinguish the fire. A ventilation fan was used to clear the smoke."

Firefighters had extinguished the blaze by 6.20pm. Three crews will remain at the building into the evening to dampen down.

The four-storey restaurant in Hardman Square is is an offshoot from the The Ivy restaurant in London, famed for its popularity with celebrities.