Terrifying fire in Mayfair restaurant loved by Love Island stars caused by SPARKLER in cocktail

A sparkler in a cocktail set fire to a Christmas tree and started a terrifying blaze which sent 300 diners sprinting to safety from a swanky Mayfair restaurant adored by Love Island stars.   

Speaking about the fire that happened at MNKY HSE Latin American restaurant on Friday evening, the London Fire Brigade told MailOnline: ‘That is what we believe to be the cause of the fire. We believe that it was a sparkler in a drink that then has caught an actual Christmas tree alight.

‘This shows the dangers of flames around Christmas trees, whether you’re in a commercial premises or whether you’re at home.’ 

Brave staff at the Mayfair restaurant were praised for saving the diners they rushed to safety after Christmas decorations caught fire. 

Terrified diners were filmed running for safety as a swanky Mayfair restaurant caught fire on Friday evening after a sparkler in a drink set fire to a Christmas tree

Terrified customers were filmed running for their lives as the restaurant was transformed into a blazing inferno at the Christmas party. 

A video posted on Twitter shows people flocking from the scene as aggressive flames reached the ceiling of the venue.

Five fire engines and around 35 firefighters turned up to the scene, but there were no serious injuries.

Another nightclub owner posted on Twitter to talk about the fire and the heroic staff

One nightclub owner, Martin Murray, took to Twitter and wrote: ‘Blaze at MNKY HSE restaurant in Mayfair sees diners rushing to escape. There were around 300 people in the restaurant at the time, I think we need to say WELL DONE to #mnky_hse for evacuating everyone and preventing a serious disaster.’

A spokesperson from the London Fire Brigade said the incident was restricted to the basement of the high rise building.

The video shows people flocking from the fire which transformed the restaurant – popular with members of Love Island – into a blazing inferno at a Christmas party 

The blaze had been extinguished before the fire service arrived. 

In a longer version of the video posted on Instagram, fire engines can be seen attending the scene and the person who posted it wrote: ‘Nearly got burnt alive at Mnky Hse but onto the next’. 

Famous faces who attended the restaurant include Love Island stars Paige Thorne and Adam Collard. The then-couple attended the swanky location on August 10

Love Island star Maura Higgins, right, also attended the restaurant on September 12

Two people were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service. They were the only people who required medical attention.

Thermal imaging was used by the fire service to check that everything was under control.

London Fire Brigade attended the scene to put out the fire on Friday night

Around 300 people were in the restaurant and they were evacuated by on-site staff

Famous faces who have attended the restaurant include Love Island stars Paige Thorne and Adam Collard. Stars of the show dined there in August after a reunion episode.

In a statement for the London Fire Brigade, a spokesperson said: ‘Christmas decorations inside the building were alight and had been extinguished before firefighters arrived. 

‘Around 300 people were evacuated by on-site staff and crews carried out a systematic search of the property to ensure no one was inside on arrival. A man and a woman were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

Love Island star Harley Brash went to MNKY HSE on November 19, around one month before the fire took place

‘Dover Street was closed whilst crews worked to make the scene safe.

‘The Brigade was called at 21:40 and the incident was over for firefighters by 22:18. Five fire engines and around 35 firefighters from Soho, Lambeth, Kensington and Chelsea fire stations attended the scene.’

They added: ‘The cause of the fire is under investigation.’

Film director partied at the Blinded By The Light event at MNKY HSE on July 29 in 2019

The venue is popular among stars but had people flocking on Friday after a fire took place

Hundreds of people were evacuated after a fire broke out at MNKY HSE Latin American restaurant (pictured) on Dover Street in Mayfair, London on Friday evening