Last night's fire in Camden

lea

Hello

I surprised my husband with a weekend away in Camden to celebrate his birthday this weekend. Last night we went to Jongleurs in Camden, and I had arranged for 6 of his friends to meet us there as a surprise for him.
At 8.30pm, just before the comedians were about to start, we were evacuated (at this point we didn't know why, and thought it was just a false alarm). However it was clear when we got outside that there was a huge fire very nearby.
Without wanting to sound heartless to all the damage that has been done to people's markets stalls, etc, but I wanted to know whether I could claim the ticket price back or something from Jongleurs? The tickets weren't cheap, plus you have to order drinks in 5 bottle buckets. Our group had just ordered our drinks which had came to just under £60, when we were evacuated and we had to leave them there. Also, my hubbie's friends came to London for the evening by train so obviously they spent approx £20 each on train fares which effectively was wasted.

Again I hope no on takes offence, I realise its a miracle no one was hurt and that its devastating for the people who have lost businesses. From our point of view, it was just a bit disappointing for us when we had spent a long time planning (and saving for) a surprise night out and it didnt happen!!

Any advice greatly received,

Thanks
Lea

alanrowell

You could claim against the folk whose premises the fire started - provided it isn't declared to be arson in which case you could try claiming of the people responsible.

Otherwise, unless you have travel insurance that covers that sort of thing, you are just going to have to take the loss.

Check with Jongleuers though just in case they'll offer a "rain check" so you can go in the future

jonesMUFCforever

I can't honestly believe the original post!

Do you think the club deliberately set fire to the market to diddle you out of your £60?

Would you have preferred to take a chance of finishing your drinks and being burnt alive?

Be bloody grateful that you are not now in a body bag in a morgue!

I read your last paragraph about not taking offence - please feel free to take any offence you want regarding this post.

richardw

Call Jongleurs.

tigtag02

I think its called *thats life* :rolleyes:

lea

Thank you, I will contact Jongleurs to see what they say.

To ejones999:
Of course I don't think that, like I said in my original post its much more important that everyone at Camden is safe and well. It was a frightening and surreal experience to be involved in something like last night, and everyone in Camden was brilliant and rallied around to help each other.
I was just purely wondering if anyone had been in a similar situation where something they had booked had been affected by an uncontrolable, unforseen event (force majeure?) Obviously I wouldnt be posting something like this if people had been injured or worse.

Jongleurs was fortunate to be quite far away from the blaze, but obviously for safety reasons had to be evacuated in case the fire spread. And I was wondering if it was likely that a large chain such as Jongleurs would refund their customers, as I realise it was something beyond their control.

It was just disappointing to have been looking forward to something for a long time, then have something completely unexpected and out of the ordinary happen (and yes I'm bloody grateful not to be in a body bag).

Thanks to everyone else for their sensible replies,

Lea

pennylane99

So whats to stop dozens of people writing in to them saying the same thing??

Personally I would be more than grateful that they took everyones safety as their main concern...

As for the train tickets wasted? ...well, there were plenty of other places in London you could have gone on to, to finish your evening...

Zazen999

I do take offence; plenty of my friends have now had their businesses and livelihoods ruined - thanks for the sentiment.

Why don't you send them an invoice for the £60, and whatever else you think you have missed out on; just to be on the safe side.

I think money saving sometimes goes a bit too far...and will stop now before I rant as apparently there is no such thing as a stupid question.

curtlyb

i should imagine that you could also claim back any dry-cleaning bills you might have as well because your clothes will undoubtedly be quite smokey after such a close shave, then there's also the compensation for the 'inconvenience'..... you've got a great case, go for it and nail the b*******s





_party_

lea

Thanks for all your comments.
I'm sorry if the original post made me out to be some heartless b**** who only cares about losing my money but that really isnt the case. I just wanted to know if anyone had been in a similar situation (I am in the fortunate position of not having experienced something like this before) and whether a big company such as Jongleurs would perhaps let us go again another time. Thats it. And the only reason I asked in the first place was that the weekend was supposed to be such a special occasion for my husband-he has been unwell and he has always wanted to go to a comedy club. Hence the surprise weekend away to do that for his birthday.
I apologise if I came across like I don't care about the damage that the fire has done to Camden and people's businesses, as again that is not the case.
After seeing the fire and damage first hand I appreciate exactly what it has done to Camden.

Lea

jonesMUFCforever

It's a pity that it took 4 posters to berate you ( and nobody agreeing with you) before you came to this conclusion.
Is this post sensible enough for you?