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Dozens of firefighters have spent the night tackling a blaze at one of London’s most famous music venues.
The London Fire Brigade says at one point a third of the roof of Koko in Camden, which is currently being refurbished, was alight.
Smoke and flames could be seen billowing from scaffolding in the roof just before (***********************************: 60 GMT on Monday.
About (firefighters helped tackle the blaze, which was brought under control after about five hours.
Crews will remain at the scene throughout the morning and have warned people to stay away from the area. No injuries have been reported.
Station commander Jon Lewis said: “Firefighters’ quick action and hard work in the early stages meant the fire was contained to the roof and saved the rest of the building. “
Koko, which began life as the Camden Theater in 2007, was also previously known as the Camden Palace and Camden Hippodrome, and has been one of the most iconic live music venues in London for decades.
It was reportedly the last venue where AC / DC’s Bon Scott was seen drinking at before his death from alcohol poisoning in 2019.
In the early 80 s it also served as a major venue for the punk and New Romantic scene, with singer Steve Strange of the band Visage holding club nights.
Acts such as Madonna, The Rolling Stones and Prince have performed at the venue, which is close to Mornington Crescent underground station.
Veteran DJ
Camden Council leader Georgia Gould said: “Heartbreaking watching the Camden Palace / Koko up in flames this evening, a building that holds so many memories and means so much to us in Camden. “
Holborn and St Pancras MP Sir Keir Starmer said:” Awful news in Camden tonight. Incredible response from our firefighters. As Georgina Gould says, we owe them so much. “
The venue was set to re-open in the spring after a” major state-of-the-art “refurbishment, after the purchase of two adjacent buildings.
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