Oxford's Westgate shopping centre was evacuated after a rooftop fire broke out.

The incident occurred at around 3pm on Sunday, October 13 as fire crews raced to the popular retail location amid reports of flames.

Customers were evacuated as firefighters made their way up to the top level to deal with the incident which was occurring at The Alchemist.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service at the time said: “Fire crews from Rewley Road and Slade Park Stations are currently in attendance and dealing with an incident on the roof terrace of the Westgate centre.

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The Alchemist at Westgate in Oxford. (Image: The Alchemist)

“The centre is currently evacuated as part of the arrangements for dealing with an incident.

“There are considerable delays in the surrounding area due to the evacuation. Please consider your journey.

“Centre management is working with closely with fire crews to reduce the impact and restore access to unaffected areas when safe to do so.”

Close to 100 people had to be evacuated from the restaurant alone with customers initially confused over what was going on.

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The fire at The Alchemist in Oxford on Sunday.The fire at The Alchemist in Oxford on Sunday. (Image: Tim Roedel)

Tim Roedel who was in the restaurant said: "We were literally opposite the kitchen. I went to the loo and the fire alarm went off and everyone was exiting the venue.

“People weren't entirely sure what to do.

"Security came upstairs and we got herded out to the front of The Alchemist. Then they told us all to start going downstairs and they were telling everyone to exit the Westgate.

"The restaurant was full, there were close to 100 people. It was very lackadaisical. In British fashion, people heard the fire alarm and assumed there was no fire.

"I went back along to see the fire and it was pretty clear it was out of control. It was in the kitchen.

"People were talking that they had tried chucking a fire blanket over the fire and that made it worse and obviously it got out of control."

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The Westgate was evacuated on Sunday (file photo).The Westgate was evacuated on Sunday (file photo).

Flames could be seen on the rooftop as the customers made their way out of The Alchemist on Sunday afternoon.

One customer asked on X: “We have stuff in The Alchemist, is there any information on when and how we can get this back?”

Westgate replied asking for the man to get in touch with the restaurant directly to arrange a collection.

Unaffected areas began to reopen with the support of Westgate management at around 4.15pm as the fire service remained at the scene on Sunday. 

By 5pm fire crews had left after firefighters wearing breathing apparatus dealt with a small fire in the kitchen of the rooftop terrace restaurant.

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All areas bar the affected unit opened again as normal but it remains to be seen when The Alchemist will reopen.

The Oxford Mail has approached the cocktail bar chain for comment.

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