A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a fire at an LGBTQ+ nightclub, police have said.

Officers have called on people not to speculate about why the fire may have been set at Pink Punters in Fenny Stratford, near Milton Keynes, saying it is too early to tell. Following the fire, the club’s owner said he was relieved no one was hurt – and vowed the club would reopen.

“Whilst I am devastated to say that the building itself has been completely destroyed, I am deeply relieved, grateful and proud to confirm that no staff or customers were harmed, and everybody went home safely,” said Frank McMahon, whose family has run Pink Punters for more than 25 years.

He said he was heartbroken, adding: “Pink Punters has always been about people, not just bricks and mortar. The building may be gone, but the family, the memories, the spirit and the love remain. And let me say this clearly: Pink Punters will be back.”

Thames Valley police received reports of the fire at 2am on Sunday. A large number of partygoers and residents in the Watling Street area were safely evacuated by staff, officers said.

Footage appears to show flames inside the top floor of the building and towering above its roof. Officers and Buckinghamshire fire and rescue crews attended, and some roads nearby were closed. There were 12 fire crews on site at the blaze’s peak, the fire service said.

A 51-year-old man from the Buckinghamshire city was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody, police said.

Pink Punters has been running for more than two decades and has dancefloors, an outdoor bar and offers karaoke.

The Milton Keynes commander, Ch Supt Emma Baillie, said: “This was a significant fire in which a large number of people had to be evacuated. Thankfully no one was injured and staff at the venue worked quickly and effectively to safely evacuate everyone. At this time, it would be too early to comment on any particular motivation for this incident and we would respectfully ask for people not to speculate.”