Sheffield nightclub Gatecrasher One has partially collapsed in a massive fire.

Gatecrasher, formerly known as Republic, burned to the ground in a blaze which started at 5 pm on Monday. Two persons were believed to be inside the building when the fire started, but both escaped unharmed.

Police sealed off all routes to the Arundel Street venue as approximately thirty firefighters and seven fire engines battled to bring the blaze under control.

At approximately 7.20 p.m., the gable end of the hundred year old former steelworks collapsed. Structural engineers were called in later in the evening to assess the damage to the building.

Gatecrasher One in Sheffield is the flagship venue for the well-known Gatecrasher brand, responsible for the euphoric trance boom in the mid to late nineties. Gatecrasher began holding monthly nights at the venue in 1992. In 2003 the club underwent a £1 million redesign, changing its name from Republic to Gatecrasher One.

In a statement posted to their website, Gatecrasher vow to rise from the ashes this summer. “We will be moving forward to scope out how we put on our planned club nights in Sheffield during the summer,” says Managing Director Simon Raine. “We will be looking to continue all Crasher and Hed Kandi nights planned in Sheffield during Summer 2007 at a venue to be confirmed.”

YouTube video of the blaze:



Photo credit: BBC. More photos of the blaze here. 7 Comments