London’s Michelin star restaurant the Wolseley burns down
London’s prestigious Wolseley restaurant has collapsed in a late-night fire, police and fire service officials said Friday.
The fire at the 21-year-old restaurant next to the capital’s famous Piccadilly Circus started at about 11:45 p.m. Thursday and quickly spread through the basement and up through the restaurant, said fire service spokesman Angus Kenyon.
London Fire Brigade said that crews managed to rescue 15 diners, but only four were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation.
Metropolitan Police said they were called to the scene and a crime scene was declared, but no arrests have been made.
The Guardian reported that firefighters were unable to enter the first-floor restaurant following the blaze because of structural damage.
The Wolseley was founded by Paul Liebrandt in 1997 and earned three Michelin stars in 2009. The Restaurant at the Wolseley — including the Wolseley and Wolseley at Crow’s Nest — earned four stars and starred in 2013.
The Wolseley was open for dinner with guest chefs Friday, the restaurant said on Twitter.