Lap Dancing in Burgess Hill

A lap-dancing club in Burgess Hill, West Sussex has been destroyed in a massive blaze - just three weeks after it opened amid fierce opposition.

Two firefighters narrowly escaped with their lives after the roof of the venue - which was empty at the time - collapsed in what was described as a 'giant bonfire' that could be seen seven miles away.

Police are investigating the possibility that it was burnt down by someone angry at the decision to launch Club Redd.

Firefighters used a sniffer dog to search for signs of petrol or other flammable liquids and police checked CCTV footage for a possible arsonist in the area early yesterday morning.

Speaking outside the still-smouldering shell today, manager Leo Valls said he was absolutely convinced the fire had been started deliberately. He said: Myself and my fellow owners had been subjected to vicious, abusive, vitriolic attacks on an internet site we set up to promote the club. We also received very unpleasant threats. I have no doubt that this was done by someone who hated the thought of a lapdancing club in Burgess Hill. But we will not let them beat us. We will rebuild and reopen as soon as possible.

Despite the local opposition, Mr Valls had been due to meet with council officials hours after the blaze started to discuss plans to expand the club's size by a third and extend opening times until at least 6am. He said business was booming in the club, which was open from Tuesday to Saturday and took up to £9,000 a night.

Police believe a huge fire that ripped through a nightclub in West Sussex was started deliberately.

More than 100 firefighters from Surrey and Sussex tackled the blaze which destroyed the recently-opened Redd lap dancing club in Burgess Hill.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue said the intensity of the fire above the Martlets Shopping Centre on Tuesday had put the lives of their staff at risk.

Sussex Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

Det Insp Stu Hale said: We believe Redd's was intentionally targeted by arsonists, and would urge anyone who was in the vicinity of The Martlets shopping precinct from around 1am on Tuesday July 15, to come forward and let us know what they may have seen or heard.

Update: Arsonist Caught on CCTV

28th July 2008

Police have released a still image of the moment an arsonist appears to accidentally set himself alight whilst starting the blaze at the Redd club in Burgess Hill.
CCTV footage caught the suspect in action as they left the club after starting the fire.

Police say this person may have suffered burns or smoke inhalation and witnesses are urgently being sought by police. Detectives discovered petrol cans at the scene last week and are now appealing for more information.

DI Stu Hale said: We are particularly keen to hear from patrol station operatives who may remember selling full or empty green or red fuel canisters, some days or hours prior to approximately 2am on Tuesday July 15. Your information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

We are also keen to trace the person pictured in the CCTV stills. Do you know of anyone who may have suffered smoke inhalation or other more serious effects caused by fire?

Anyone with information about the arson should call DI Hale at Haywards Heath 0845 60 70 999.

Police have released a still image of the moment an arsonist appears to accidentally set himself alight whilst starting the blaze at the Redd club in Burgess Hill.
CCTV footage caught the suspect in action as they left the club after starting the fire.

Police say this person may have suffered burns or smoke inhalation and witnesses are urgently being sought by police. Detectives discovered petrol cans at the scene last week and are now appealing for more information.

DI Stu Hale said: We are particularly keen to hear from patrol station operatives who may remember selling full or empty green or red fuel canisters, some days or hours prior to approximately 2am on Tuesday July 15. Your information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

We are also keen to trace the person pictured in the CCTV stills. Do you know of anyone who may have suffered smoke inhalation or other more serious effects caused by fire?

Anyone with information about the arson should call DI Hale at Haywards Heath 0845 60 70 999.

Update: Effigy

30th September 2008. Based on article from theargus.co.uk

A burning effigy of a pole dancer was a hot topic of conversation during a bonfire procession.

The tongue-in-cheek figure played a part in the Burgess Hill Bonfire on Saturday night which attracted more than 5,000 people to the town.

The model was a reminder of the blaze which destroyed lap-dancing club Redd, above the Martlets shopping centre in Burgess Hill, in July.

About 22 bonfire societies from across Sussex turned out for the lengthy procession which went down well with the crowds.

Update: Pagan Temple

9th November 2009. See article from bognor.co.uk

The owner of the arson-wrecked Redd Club says he wants to re-open it as a pagan temple. Leo Valls has told councillors he intends to run the lap-dancing club at The Martlets, Burgess Hill, as a place of religious worship known as Redd Temple.

The upper-storey club and a seperately-run bar underneath were both wrecked by an arson attack last year, although police have been unable to charge anyone for the attack.

An application to rebuild the site has yet to be decided by Mid Sussex District Council, which this week confirmed there is still a current licence.