The owners of Kýnd Café in Sydenham are reeling after a fire, believed to be caused by a discarded cigarette, destroyed much of their business in minutes. Tatiana and Elena, who opened the popular café in January 2025, watched helplessly as flames consumed their hard work on Sunday, August 2. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed the fire was accidental, resulting from the unsafe use of smoking materials.
Fire breaks out in Newlands Park
The fire erupted in Newlands Park, requiring 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters to bring it under control. The blaze damaged part of the ground floor and half of the first floor of a flat, half of a ground-floor shop, and part of a flat above the shop. Most of the ground floor and part of the first floor of a third flat were also damaged. An outbuilding and a shed were completely destroyed.
Tatiana and Elena were closing up the café when they noticed the smell of smoke at around 2pm. Initially, they thought neighbours were having a barbecue, but the smoke quickly intensified. "We went into the garden and saw flames rising along our side of the fence," Tatiana told MyLondon. "Elena tried to use a fire extinguisher, but I could see the fire was very aggressive. I told her there was nothing we could do, so we evacuated all the staff inside."
Frantic evacuation and emotional toll
Within minutes, firefighters arrived. Tatiana praised their bravery: "They were so brave because the café was completely black with smoke and we had to tell them the gas was still on and it needed to be switched off." Elena, unable to sit and wait, found a gap between buildings to watch the devastation. "I was completely empty inside; Elena was crying. We saw everything go up in flames, all the hard work that we had done, gone in minutes," Tatiana added.
The friends had saved for years to open Kýnd, a healthy, community-focused coffee shop. They chose Newlands Park because it was a residential area, dog-friendly, and surrounded by houses. After months of preparation, they opened in 2025. Now, they face the daunting task of rebuilding. The back of the café and its garden were completely destroyed, as were three flats nearby.
Community rallies with fundraiser
While awaiting word from insurers, Tatiana and Elena's sisters set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with immediate costs. The fundraiser has already raised £9,000, with the community showing overwhelming support. "We received so much love and the community has always been with us ever since the beginning," Tatiana said. "These are everyday people giving money, and we appreciate all of their support."
Other cafés have donated, and people have offered to host free events. Tatiana noted, "It's motivating us to get back as soon as possible. We still have VAT to pay and payroll to pay staff, so since we won't be open, the money from the GoFundMe will be key to helping us keep going. Our staff is like family and we are hopeful our insurance eventually will be able to help keep them on a retainer as well."
Ongoing smouldering and safety warning
Fortunately, the front of the café sustained less damage, and they hope to operate in a limited capacity while repairs are underway. However, when MyLondon visited, firefighters were still on scene as smouldering continued two days later. The LFB reiterated its warning: if you smoke, it is vitally important to completely stub out your cigarette before disposing of it.
The community's response has been a beacon of hope for the owners, who are determined to rebuild. As Tatiana put it, "We were all over the place and trying to figure out what we could do, then my sister said she wanted to set up the GoFundMe." The fundraiser remains active, and donations are welcome to help Kýnd rise from the ashes.
