Fire forces diners to flee Lebanese restaurant in London's Belgravia

London Fire Brigade said about 60 firefighters and eight engines tackled the blaze in Belgravia. Photo: London Fire Brigade

Diners at an upscale restaurant in London’s Belgravia were forced to flee after a fire broke out.

Seven customers and six restaurant staff evacuated Abdelwahab Lebanese restaurant before firefighters arrived on the scene and extinguished the blaze.

London Fire Brigade said about 60 firefighters and eight engines tackled the blaze after receiving a call at 10.40pm. The blaze was brought under control by 2.09am. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A person at the scene told The National that the fire started in the kitchen, before spreading all the way up to the first floor of the building. "It's a tragedy for the restaurant, especially at the start of Ramadan," they added. The Abdel Wahab chain also has branches in Dubai, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The restaurant's blackened bar was covered in debris, and the smell of the extinguished fire lingered across the busy street. Despite the damage, dining tables that were prepared for the next day remained untouched.

“Part of the basement of the building was damaged by fire,” the fire brigade said in a statement.

“All of the ducting (extraction system), from the basement to the roof level, was destroyed in the blaze.

“Six staff and seven diners left the building before the Brigade arrived.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used fire escape hoods on one woman and one man who were led to safety from the third floor of the building.”

The hoods, which are worn over people’s heads, provide a person with about 15 minutes of clean filtered air, protecting them against harmful gases.

Belgravia, a district in Central London, was initially developed in the 19th-century by Marquess of Westminster, Robert Grosvenor.

It is home to upscale restaurants and shops, as well as many ultra-wealthy who can afford the eye-wateringly high property prices.