Fire-hit club is being taken down
BULLDOZERS have begun to demolish a once popular club which was shut down following a fire earlier this year.
Part of the Clarendon Club, on Coventry Road, has already been reduced to rubble with the rest expected to follow shortly.
It is not known what, if any, future plans exist for the site.
The club was a popular choice for Northern Soul fans with a regular monthly gig organised by a local group.
It was also the original home of the Hinckley Sweet Pea Bowls Club, founded in 1930, before members relocated to their own club house in 2002.
When the demolition of the venue was announced in September, bowls club member Brian Underwood said the proposed demolition would not affect the bowls team.
He said: “We are operating as normal and will continue to do so.
“You will also be aware that the bowls club land is allocated and safeguarded as open space, sport and recreational use in the local plan.”
Fire struck at the Clarendon at around 6.45pm on February 28, originating in the electricity room at the rear.
Three fire engines were turned out, initially two from Hinckley and later one from Nuneaton.
Staff and customers were in the premises at the time and were evacuated as the fire took hold.
Everyone managed to get out safely and no one suffered any injury during the incident.
Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using a hose reel jet tackled the flames but were hampered by an arcing electricity transformer in the switch room.
At 7pm an urgent call was made to electricity network operator, Western Power Distribution, to send out officials to isolate the supply.
In the meantime the crews were able to contain the blaze, using the hose reel and a covering jet.
The power supply was eventually isolated at 8pm, prompting temporary power cuts to neighbouring properties.
With the main fire extinguished crews employed a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear smoke and worked on cutting away hotspots in the roof space.
All engines had left the scene by 10.30pm.
What are your memories of the Clarendon Club? Email hinckleytimes@trinitymirror.com