Kingston Market Fire Thought to Have Started with Faulty Fridge

Key Points

• A fire that destroyed several stalls at Kingston’s Ancient Market is thought to have been caused by a fridge with an electrical fault.
• London Fire Brigade said the suspected appliance still requires verification by an electrical testing firm and has not identified its location.
• The brigade has classified the fire as accidental, while the Metropolitan Police said the incident was not suspicious.
• Firefighters received the first of six calls at 04:33 BST on Tuesday and the fire was extinguished at 06:08, according to earlier BBC reporting.
• Several nearby businesses, including Lush, Greggs, Hotter and a bureau de change, were affected.
• Kingston Council said work to make damaged buildings safe is under way before the clean-up can begin.
• Council leader Andreas Kirsch said some traders whose stalls were not damaged had already been able to resume trading.
• Market trader Tim Meads, who has operated a fishmonger stall for 42 years, said his business had lost everything in the fire.
• Anmol Brahmbhatt told the BBC there was concern over whether repairs could be completed before Christmas.
• Between the Bridges had already submitted plans to modernise the market with replacement stalls, a central piazza, restaurant, bar and roof terrace.

The Londoner News (TLN) October 8, 2026 – A fire at Kingston’s Ancient Market in south-west London is thought to have been caused by a fridge with an electrical fault, although the suspected appliance still requires further verification. London Fire Brigade has classified the blaze as accidental, while the Metropolitan Police has concluded that the incident was not suspicious. The fire destroyed a number of market stalls and damaged nearby shops, leaving traders and businesses facing disruption as work begins to make the affected buildings safe. Kingston Council and the market operator, Between the Bridges, are now working on measures to support traders and businesses affected by the incident.

What is believed to have caused the Kingston Ancient Market fire?

According to reporting by Victoria Cook for the BBC, London Fire Brigade believes a fridge with an electrical fault may have started the fire that damaged Kingston’s Ancient Market in the early hours of Tuesday.

The brigade has stressed that the suspected cause is not yet fully verified. The appliance is to undergo further examination by an electrical testing firm, meaning the fridge is currently regarded as the suspected source rather than a conclusively established cause.

The London Fire Brigade has also not disclosed where the fridge was located.

The distinction is significant because the brigade has already determined that the fire was accidental. Separately, the Metropolitan Police investigation found no indication that the incident was suspicious. The police therefore do not regard the blaze as a suspected criminal act.

Earlier BBC reporting said firefighters received their first call at 04:33 BST after smoke and flames were reported at the market. Crews from Kingston, Surbiton, New Malden and surrounding stations attended, with the fire brought under control by 06:08.

The investigation into the suspected appliance provides a more specific explanation for the incident, while the requirement for electrical testing means the technical cause remains subject to verification.

How badly was Kingston’s Ancient Market damaged?

The fire destroyed a number of stalls within the Ancient Market and also caused damage to businesses located around the market.

BBC reporting identified Lush, Greggs, Hotter and a bureau de change among the businesses affected. The damage was therefore not limited to individual market traders, with neighbouring commercial premises also suffering the consequences of the blaze.

Earlier reporting by the BBC said the fire damaged the fascia of several properties and a small section of the roof of a neighbouring building. The surrounding area was subsequently restricted while safety checks and recovery work took place.

The extent of the damage has created immediate practical problems for traders who rely on the market for their income. Businesses affected by the fire have also had to assess when they can safely reopen and what repairs will be required.

A report by Tilly O’Brien for Kingston Nub News added that the undamaged sections of the market had reopened and that some stalls had returned to trading. Construction workers were also beginning work at the site to address damage and support the recovery process.

That development provides an indication that the market’s recovery is already taking place in stages rather than through a complete closure of the whole site.

What has Kingston Council said about the recovery?

Kingston Council said work to make the damaged buildings safe was under way and that cleaning operations would begin once the site was considered safe.

The authority also said it was working with Between the Bridges, the operator of the market, to examine ways of supporting traders affected by the fire. The council said it would continue supporting traders and businesses in the wider area.

Council leader Andreas Kirsch said some traders whose stalls were not damaged had been able to return to trading.

Kirsch also said the council was working to secure the site and support affected traders in returning to work. His comments placed the immediate emphasis on safety, followed by the restoration of trading activity.

Earlier BBC reporting recorded Kirsch saying that the Ancient Market was at the centre of the local community and that the council was working with its partners to support traders, business owners and residents affected by the incident.

The council’s response therefore involves more than clearing fire damage. It includes coordination with the market operator and efforts to help businesses affected by the interruption to normal trading.

Kingston Council’s official market proposals and information

How has the fire affected Kingston market traders?

The effect on individual traders has been particularly serious because market stalls represent both trading premises and livelihoods.

Tim Meads, a fishmonger who has traded at Kingston’s market for 42 years, told the BBC about the scale of the loss following the fire. His stall was among those damaged.

Meads said the fire had taken everything from him and described the situation as devastating. He also said he hoped the market could be rebuilt because, in his view, Kingston needed the market.

His comments illustrate the immediate financial consequences for traders whose businesses were directly exposed to the fire.

A separate BBC report by Victoria Cook and Gem O’Reilly on the community impact of the fire said Meads feared that around £2,000 worth of fish kept in outdoor fridges could have been destroyed.

The damage also affects traders beyond the physical condition of their stalls. Where stock, equipment or trading space has been lost, businesses may face a period without normal income while safety inspections, repairs and decisions about reopening take place.

The council’s work with the market operator is therefore expected to focus on both physical recovery and assistance for traders affected by the disruption.

Why are local businesses concerned about the Christmas trading period?

The timing of the fire has increased concern among traders and businesses about the months ahead.

Anmol Brahmbhatt, who works close to the market, told the BBC that there was speculation over whether repairs could be completed before Christmas. She described the market as central to Kingston’s daily commercial life and said traders faced the prospect of lost earnings.

Her comments came as local businesses were assessing the immediate damage and considering the potential effect of a prolonged interruption.

BBC reporting also described the impact on neighbouring shops, including Lush, Greggs, Hotter and the bureau de change. A separate BBC report noted that Zega Coffee sustained window damage but was able to remain open.

The difference between businesses that can continue operating and those requiring substantial repairs means the financial consequences will vary across the area.

For traders whose stalls were destroyed or seriously damaged, however, the issue is more fundamental because they cannot simply continue normal operations until the market site has been made safe.

What was the planned future of Kingston Ancient Market before the fire?

The fire occurred while Kingston Ancient Market was already subject to proposals for a substantial redevelopment.

Charlotte Lillywhite of the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported in March that operator Between the Bridges had submitted plans to Kingston Council to transform the market. The proposals included replacement market stalls, a central piazza, new public facilities and improvements to the market layout.

The proposed scheme also included changes to the Grade II* listed Market House. Plans envisaged a restaurant and café on the ground floor, with a bar and events space on the first floor, alongside a roof terrace overlooking the market.

The proposals were part of a broader attempt to modernise the historic market while retaining its role as a trading and community space.

The market dates back to around 1170 and was described in the earlier planning coverage as one of London’s oldest street markets. It had 28 permanent stalls and operated daily before the fire.

Between the Bridges took over management of the market in April 2025 as part of Kingston Council’s plans to revive the town-centre attraction. The operator’s proposals were subsequently developed through planning and consultation processes.

The fire has therefore occurred against an existing background of planned changes rather than at a time when the market was operating without any redevelopment plans.

What does the existing redevelopment proposal mean for the market’s recovery?

The relationship between the fire damage and the existing redevelopment proposals remains an important issue for the market’s future.

The plans submitted by Between the Bridges sought to replace the existing permanent stalls, improve the layout of Market Place and create space for temporary markets and events. The proposals also included refurbishment of the Market House and additional seating and public facilities.

The proposed central piazza would provide space for pop-up and themed markets, while the wider scheme was designed to increase the flexibility of the market space.

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has previously described the redevelopment process as part of efforts to create a more welcoming and flexible market environment while supporting local enterprise and the surrounding community.

However, the existence of a redevelopment proposal does not itself establish how the fire damage will be incorporated into future works. The immediate priority remains making damaged buildings safe and allowing affected traders and businesses to resume operations where possible.

What is known about the police investigation into the fire?

The Metropolitan Police has concluded that the fire was not suspicious.

This finding separates the incident from cases where police believe deliberate ignition or criminal activity may have been involved. In this case, the police investigation did not identify circumstances requiring the fire to be treated as suspicious.

The London Fire Brigade’s conclusion that the blaze was accidental is consistent with that position, although the precise technical explanation remains subject to further verification of the suspected faulty fridge.

Earlier BBC reporting said no injuries were reported and that emergency crews were able to prevent the fire from fully spreading to surrounding buildings.

The current position is therefore that the fire is being treated as an accidental incident, with the electrical fault theory requiring additional technical confirmation.

What happens next for Kingston Ancient Market?

The immediate next step is to make the damaged buildings and affected areas safe.

Kingston Council has said that work has already begun, with cleaning to follow once safety requirements have been met. Some unaffected parts of the market have resumed trading, while other areas remain subject to restrictions because of the damage.

The council and Between the Bridges are also considering how best to support traders whose businesses have been directly affected.

For traders such as Meads, the recovery involves replacing or repairing physical trading facilities as well as dealing with lost stock and income. For nearby shops, the priority is assessing structural and property damage and determining when individual premises can safely reopen.

The technical assessment of the suspected fridge will also be important in establishing the final findings on the fire’s cause.

What is the background to Kingston Ancient Market?

Kingston Ancient Market has operated in Kingston town centre since around 1170 and is one of London’s historic street markets. Before the fire, it had 28 permanent stalls and was open each day.

The market had already been undergoing a period of change before the blaze. Between the Bridges became its operator in April 2025, with Kingston Council seeking to revitalise the market and surrounding town-centre asset.

Plans submitted in 2026 proposed replacing existing stalls, creating a central piazza, improving facilities and bringing the largely unused Market House back into use through restaurant, café, bar and events facilities.

The proposed redevelopment had not yet removed the uncertainty surrounding the future physical form of the market when the fire occurred. The latest incident now adds the requirement to assess and repair fire damage alongside the previously proposed improvements.

What could the Kingston market fire mean for traders and local businesses?

The immediate effect for Kingston market traders and nearby businesses is likely to be continued disruption while safety work, damage assessments and repairs take place.

The fact that some undamaged stalls have already returned to trading indicates that parts of the market can continue operating. However, traders whose stalls were destroyed or seriously damaged face a substantially longer recovery process.

The timing could also affect businesses preparing for the Christmas trading period. As reported by Victoria Cook for the BBC, local concern has centred on whether repairs can be completed before Christmas, while trader Tim Meads has described the loss of his stall as devastating.

The longer-term effect will depend on the speed of safety work, the scale of repairs required, support available to affected traders and how the fire damage interacts with the market’s existing redevelopment proposals.

At present, neither the final technical cause of the fire nor a definitive timetable for full restoration has been established. The London Fire Brigade’s suspected faulty-fridge finding remains subject to electrical verification, while Kingston Council continues work to make the site safe.

The available evidence therefore points to a recovery process centred on safety, reopening unaffected trading areas, supporting affected businesses and determining the practical route forward for a market that was already facing planned redevelopment before the fire.