Ten fire engines were called to the incident at Ashford’s former Liquid nightclub in the early hours.
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 3 The unlisted site has been badly damaged in the blaze. Picture: Steve Salter](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/94DOWQ4KKW1LLSH0THLN.jpg)
Residents living in the town centre and Mace Lane area were asked to keep their windows and doors closed due to the large amount of smoke.
It came just two weeks after nine fire engines attended another blaze at the site, which has been empty since 2014.
Developer Oliver Davis, who has owned the building since 2021, had planned to turn the landmark into 53 flats.
But he confirmed earlier this month how that is no longer happening as he has had more interest from commercial tenants than residential.
He said the unlisted building, which was built in 1901 as H.S. Pledge and Son flour mill, is still due to receive a long-overdue makeover as it will be turned into a “flexible office space”.
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 5 One fire engine remains at the scene this evening. Picture: Steve Salter](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/6Z3IJB82IKG30GJ7W3EX.jpg)
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 7 The damage is extensive at the former mill and nightclub in East Hill, Ashford. Picture: Steve Salter](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/ZSJRYSPLMT7LMVK6Y7YB.jpg)
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 9 Fire crews were called to the site in the early hours. Picture: Steve Salter](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/PHF13PYSNNT5N3ZSUE42.jpg)
But fire crews have twice been called to the site since he made that announcement, with police and one fire engine remaining at the scene this evening.
The first blaze in December started when a tree was set alight and spread to the building, but it remains unclear how today’s fire began.
The site had been a selection of nightspots until 2014, with Liquid becoming the last name to occupy it.
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 11 The former flour mill in East Hill is next to Ashford School](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/JP1WJRF3WBWRWNWHTZKU.jpg)
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 13 How the East Hill mill residential development was set to look. Picture: Hollaway](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/FCC1OX87OKSQRSE1ZFU3.jpg)
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 15 Oliver Davis has owned the site since 2021. Picture: Steve Salter](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/QL1724ZTAKMCSSQHYP38.jpg)
![Pictures show aftermath of fire at abandoned nightclub in East Hill, Ashford 17 Queues at the opening night of Liquid nightclub in 2002. Picture: Dave Downey](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/_media/img/F6FXPV4EBZD40QEACIG2.jpg)
Before Mr Davis snapped up the building, proposals had emerged in 2017 to turn the seven-storey site into a performing arts centre for Ashford School, complete with a 250-seat theatre and staff offices, but it never got off the ground.
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