Terrified diners rush to safety after fire breaks out at posh London restaurant

17 December 2022, 13:03 | Updated: 17 December 2022, 13:07

Terrified diners were forced to run for their lives after a fire tore through a posh restaurant in London, with footage posted on social media showing guests scrambling to escape.

Video of the incident shows the MNKY HSE restaurant on Dover Street being engulfed in flames in Mayfair last night.

In the shocking footage, people are heard shouting ‘Go, go, go’ and ‘Get out’ as made their way out under what appeared to be festive decorations that had caught fire.

Some were seen falling to the floor as they rushed to avoid the flames, with others ducking and covering their heads.

Another clip posted to Twitter shows the fire starting in the corner the restaurant before quickly spreading across the ceiling.

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Shortly after, flames spread to tables, chairs and the floor.

Firefighters were scrambled to the scene just after 9.40pm, with Dover Street closed to drivers.

Five fire engines and at least 25 firefighters were scrambled to the scene.

The London Fire Brigade said in a statement: ‘Christmas decorations inside the building were alight and had been extinguished before firefighters arrived.

‘Around 300 people were evacuated by on-site staff and fire 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.’

It remains unclear how the fire started, and the owners of MNKY HSE haven't yet made a statement about the incident.