A fire that broke out above a betting shop on Gordon Road in West Bridgford on Sunday evening has left a local tattoo studio with extensive damage and its artists temporarily without a workplace. Crews from Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue attended the blaze after being called at 4.50pm on Sunday, July 26, and two fire engines were deployed.
Damage to studio and disruption to services
The studio, Vellum Tattoo, which occupies premises above a Ladbrokes branch, suffered severe fire, smoke and water damage, the three artists who work there said. The team — named in their statement as Tara, Ella and Juris — described the workplace as "ruined" and said all of their tattooing equipment was lost in the blaze.
"The damage to our studio is severe and major repairs will have to be made until we can return to tattooing at Vellum... The entire studio is ruined, [with] fire, smoke, water damage & broken glass throughout. We are all heartbroken."
The artists confirmed the studio was closed and empty at the time of the fire, and thanked the fire service and neighbours for their help. They said they will be forced to move appointments to other premises and will announce details of prints and paintings for sale to help support them while they rebuild.
Emergency response and local impact
Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue said crews from West Bridgford and London Road stations responded. Gordon Road was temporarily closed while firefighters extinguished the blaze, and motorists were warned to avoid the area during the closure.
- Time called: 4.50pm, Sunday 26 July
- Location: Gordon Road, West Bridgford (above Ladbrokes)
- Units attended: Crews from West Bridgford and London Road; two fire engines
- Outcome: Severe damage to studio; no-one injured (studio was closed)
Nottingham City Transport reported that some services were diverted while the road closure was in place. Bus routes were re-routed via Rectory Road, Melton Road and Stamford Road in both directions for the duration of the incident.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Call to fire service | 4.50pm, Sunday 26 July |
| Location | Gordon Road, West Bridgford (above Ladbrokes) |
| Fire response | Crews from West Bridgford and London Road; two engines |
| Service disruption | Gordon Road closed temporarily; bus diversions via Rectory, Melton and Stamford Roads |
| Cause | Not yet confirmed |
What happens next
The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, the fire service said. The artists have said they are determined to rebuild and will keep customers updated about relocated appointments and fund-raising efforts via their channels.
For residents and visitors, the main practical impact was the temporary road closure and the bus route changes. Anyone with appointments at Vellum Tattoo should contact the studio directly for updates; those affected by bus diversions were advised to check the Nottingham City Transport website or social feeds for revised timetables while services were re-routed.
Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue and the studio did not report any injuries. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
