An investigation is under way after a fire broke out in the early hours of the morning as revellers watched on.
The blaze began at around 1am on Saturday morning on Vine Place in Sunderland city centre above businesses and bars.
The fire had broken out on the second floor of a building above The Pickle bar and the Little Black Book strip club.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and witnesses say they had the huge flames under control within minutes.
A spokeswoman for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: "The fire was on the second floor of a three-storey building.
"The first room was 100% severely damaged by fire, the second room was 30% severely damaged by fire and the remainder of the second floor was 100% severely damaged by fire.
"Initial appliances that attended were four firefighters from Sunderland Community Fire Station and four from Farringdon and additional personal included more firefighters from Farringdon, Marley Park and Gosforth.
"We got the call at 1am and were on scene by 1.05am."
Firefighters used a jet, hose reels, breathing apparatus, a positive pressure ventilation van and a thermal imaging camera.
An investigation is now under way to determine the cause of the fire.
