Firefighters in Sheffield spent Sunday evening tackling a large blaze at the former working men's club on Shiregreen Lane, a venue immortalized by the 2000 film The Full Monty. The fire service deployed eight engines to the scene at around 5:30pm, with smoke visibly billowing from the roof of the derelict building, which has been empty since 2018.
Blaze spreads through derelict building
Video footage shared on Sheffield Online showed flames spreading through the rooms and onto the roof of the once-bustling social club. South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue issued a statement urging locals to avoid the area and to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke. The building had been the subject of two separate planning applications—a 2020 proposal to convert it into flats and a 2024 plan for a boxing gym—but neither was approved.
Community remembers iconic venue
The club, which once proudly displayed a sign reading 'Home of The Full Monty,' closed its doors over eight years ago amid a decline in trade. Local resident Ann Bentley, who has campaigned to save the building since its closure, told the BBC about the excitement when the film was shot there. 'We didn't even know what they were filming. We always connect the club to the film,' she said.
Suspected arson and fears for the future
The fire is believed to have been started deliberately, and Ms Bentley fears the site will continue to attract fires and vandalism unless action is taken. The incident has reignited concerns about the fate of historic community venues in Sheffield, with locals calling for better protection of the city's cultural landmarks.
