Restaurant burnt in blaze to remain closed today after Westquay fire
Shoppers were shocked just after 7.30pm, as eyewitnesses saw "10 fire engines" tackled the incident and fire alarms blared out in the building.
Westquay South was evacuated last night as firefighters rushed to a restaurant blaze, and eyewitness Graham Wiffen filmed the emergency response running hoses into the building via a delivery goods entrance. pic.twitter.com/znHEuL0HG7
— Reece Barrett (@reecebrrtt) July 10, 2025
A large crowd watched on from outside Hollywood Bowl as a cordon was put in place on the Harbour Parade roundabout, including Graham Wiffen, who saw 10 engines "fully setup outside" after evacuating Showcase Cinema De Lux.
The Red Dog Saloon restaurant at Westquay South. (Image: Google Maps) Crews from St Mary's, Hightown, Redbridge, Eastleigh, and Southsea stations all rushed to the scene and hoses were ran into the Westquay South building via a delivery goods entrance.
READ MORE: Watch as firefighters gathered at Westquay to tackle restaurant blaze
Hampshire fire revealed that the fire originated "in the kitchen area" of the Red Dog Saloon restaurant.
A large crowd watched on after being evacuated. (Image: Graham Wiffen)The restaurant has since confirmed to the Echo that the fire was a "minor incident" but that the outlet will remain closed for the rest of the day.
A spokesperson for Red Dog Saloon said: "No one was hurt and we will be open again by tomorrow."
All retailers in Westquay South reopened after the fire once a "return to units was agreed with the fire brigade", a spokesperson for the shopping centre said.
READ MORE: Westquay evacuated as firefighters rush to tackle restaurant blaze
Westquay's spokesperson continued: "A fire alarm was activated in Red Dog Saloon Restaurant at Westquay last night and a localised evacuation took place.
Firefighters taped off the road at Harbour Parade Roundabout as a cordon was put in place. (Image: Graham Wiffen)
"Details on the Red Dog Saloon Restaurant reopening will be provided in due course. The safety and security of our guests and colleagues is always our top priority."
Firefighters used three hose jets to extinguish the fire in the kitchen area, and ventilation fans were deployed to clear smoke from the premises.
Crews returned to their stations following the stop message shortly after 9:00pm.
Hampshire fire issued a thank you message to all Westquay staff and members of the public for their response to the incident.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Overhaul water regulators into one single body, landmark review recommends
The system for regulating water companies in England and Wales should be overhauled and replaced with one single body, a landmark review of the sector has advised. The much-anticipated final report from the Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, outlined 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments to turn around the ailing industry. The government-commissioned review was tasked by the UK and Welsh governments to carry out the largest review of the sector since privatisation in the face of widespread public anger over pollution, bills and bosses' bonuses although ministers ruled out nationalising water companies. The report, published on Monday morning, recommended abolishing Ofwat, which oversees how much water companies in England and Wales can charge for services, as well as the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), which ensures that public water supplies are safe. It also advised removing the regulatory roles of the Environment Agency and Natural England, which monitor the sector's impact on nature, such as companies illegally dumping sewage into waterways. Instead, the review said a single integrated water regulator in England and a single water regulator in Wales should be established. The current system of regulation has faced intense criticism for overseeing water companies during the years they paid out shareholders and accrued large debts while ageing infrastructure crumbled and sewage spills skyrocketed. Other recommendations from the commission include stronger consumer advocacy, nine new regional water authorities to deliver on local priorities, significant improvements to environmental regulation and tighter oversight of company ownership and government. It comes after nearly nine months of the commission analysing, researching and engaging with more than 50,000 responses to its call for evidence. In the review, it has covered how the system is regulated, how to manage the competing demands on water, how water companies are governed and how critical water infrastructure is kept resilient into the future. Sir Jon said: 'Restoring trust has been central to our work. Trust that bills are fair, that regulation is effective, that water companies will act in the public interest and that investors can get a fair return. 'Our recommendations to achieve this are significant. They include the management of the whole water system, regulation of the water industry, the governance and financial resilience of water companies and a stronger voice for local communities and water customers. 'In this report I have considered what is best for the long-term future of water. 'This is a complex sector with a highly integrated system, responsible for the second-largest infrastructure programme in the UK. 'Resetting this sector and restoring pride in the future of our waterways matters to us all. 'In countless conversations in the last nine months I have been struck by the urgent need and passion for change. 'Doing this will require hard work, strong leadership and sustained commitment. But it can and must be done.' The report also shares recommendations on implementation, including which reforms can be delivered in the short-term and which require new primary legislation. In a speech responding to Sir Jon's report later on Monday, Environment Secretary Steve Reed is set to welcome the commission's recommendations to ensure 'the failures of the past can never happen again'. He is also widely reported to be preparing to abolish Ofwat but is unlikely to commit to expanding social tariffs that could help households struggling with bills at the cost of higher charges for wealthier families. The Environment Secretary will also pledge to setting up the creation of a new, legally binding water ombudsman, expanding the role of the voluntary Consumer Council for Water and bringing the sector into line with other utilities. And prior to Monday's announcement, Mr Reed committed to halving sewage pollution in England's rivers by 2030 thanks to a £104 billion investment from the sector in upgrading infrastructure. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have agreed that water regulation needs to change. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey called for the creation of a Clean Water Authority that could 'hold these water companies to account' and 'fine them when they fail'. Tory shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins urged the Government to be 'transparent' about what would replace Ofwat but also accused Labour of copying the policies of the previous government.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'We want to buy railway sports centre we've used since 1926'
A charity which runs sports clubs for all ages has launched a campaign to buy the hall it has used for a century. York Railway Institute's lease on the Queen Street venue expires in 2027, but owners Network Rail have given the organisation the option of purchasing the site from them. The charity now needs to raise £100,000 in its centenary year to secure the future of the building it has occupied since 1926. Mike Poulter, coach of York RI Juniors badminton team, said owning the sports centre would give people an chance to "be part of our future, as well as our past". "There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of people in and around York who have played sport at the RI," he added. York Railway Institute was established in the 19th Century as a place for the city's railway workers to improve their education, and it had a library, classrooms and a dining hall. The locomotive erecting shops and carriage works next door were converted into a gymnasium by 1926, and there was a boxing ring which was later replaced with badminton courts. The Institute still hosts badminton tournaments at national level, as well as activities such as pickleball, squash and judo. Trustee Heather Robertson said it was fitting that the chance to buy the "much-loved" venue coincided with the centre's upcoming 100th anniversary. "Due to various works around the station, and the York Central development scheme, we've felt a little like we're on borrowed time. "We've had really good support from Network Rail, especially since Covid, but the time has run out on that lease arrangement." Ms Robertson added that if the charity could not raise the funds in time, it would impact the clubs that used the facility, many of which compete under the York RI name. "If this did disappear, you'd hope those clubs would survive and find a different venue but that seems like a difficult thing to do," she said. "It not a case of just picking a different sports centre - there's nothing like it in terms of location and what it offers as a venue." Dermot Heslop, a judo coach and York RI treasurer, said the venue meant "an awful lot" to his family, who had been involved since the 1940s through working on the railways. "If we can buy the building it gives me an opportunity to say thank you to the Railway Institute for everything it's done for me as an individual," he said. "When you think of the demographic in York, there are people in their 80s who are playing here and there are children under the age of five. "We have nationalities from all over the world that come to the venue." A Network Rail spokesperson said the organisation was "delighted to support the long-term future" of the York RI. "Our teams have been working collaboratively with York RI to secure this historical building's future as a community sports facility," they said. "This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting local communities whilst preserving railway heritage, and forms part of our broader Queen Street estate plans." York RI has a number of fundraising events planned until 2027, starting with a 24-hour "badminton-athon" on 2 August. Isobel Avey, supervisor at the centre, said that there was a "massive emphasis on community" among the teams that used the space. "I'm excited to see how everyone is rallying around, that's a reflection of how much people love the place and want to keep it open. "It would be such a shame for it to go, it would be so upsetting." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Related Internet Links York RI Network Rail More on this story Band studio plan for listed railway building
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool could still make more than £200m this summer
Liverpool could still make a lot of money this summer, more than £200m in fact. The reality is that there are a lot of assets that need to be sold by Richard Hughes in this window. At this moment in time, with Hugo Ekitike closing in on a move to Liverpool, the Reds will have 18 non-homegrown players in their first team squad. LFC x Nike Air Max Buy Now LFC Retro Shirts Buy Now LFC Kits Buy Now LFC Nike Training Buy Now The list will include the following players: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Tsimikas, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Endo, Salah, Diaz, Nunez, Chiesa, Gakpo, Ekitke. In the Premier League, you can only register 17 non-homegrown players so that means one person is guaranteed to be sold. But the reality is that it won't just be one player but multiple players who will move on. From the club's non-homegrown players the likes of Federico Chiesa, Luis Diaz, Kostas Tsimikas and Darwin Nunez could still be in line to leave the club. On top of that homegrown players like Harvey Elliott, Tyler Morton and Owen Beck also face uncertain futures. Meanwhile, U21 stars like Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak are again players who could be let go on permanent deal. We've had a look at the potential players who could be sold and for around how much to figure out just how much money Richard Hughes could be in line to make this summer. We've included the list here with some rough estimates of transfer fees. Players to be sold - Luis Diaz - £70m Darwin Nunez - £60m Federico Chiesa - £15m Ben Doak - £25m Kostas Tsimikas - £15m Harvey Elliott - £40m Tyler Morton - £12m These are the players from the first team squad. But some of the club's U21 players could also be set for permanent moves. Among the likeliest to leave and for how much are as follows: Owen Beck - £5m Calvin Ramsay - £1m
