Jacques Moretti and wife Jessica are powerful figures in the Swiss hospitality industry and owned Le Constellation bar
Owners of Swiss Bar set on fire have links to UK (Image: Social Media )
The owners of the Swiss bar that was engulfed by flames killing at least 47 people and injuring 115 others have links to the UK, it has emerged today. Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica opened the nightclub ‘Le Constellation’ in the Crans-Montana ski resort in 2015 after a holiday to the upmarket destination.
The venue was destroyed after a raging fire killed many young people bringing in the New Year. Mrs Moretti, 40, attended the University of Glamorgan in south Wales according to her Facebook page. She has also completed courses at the International University of Monaco and the Montpelier Business School in France. The pair, who reportedly have a son, live on the French island of Corsica.
Crans-Montana is a largely French speaking holiday destination for skiers and golfers, with the Morettis being part of some of the first groups to visit in 2011. After this, they opened their bar in December 2015.
It has been described online to have a ‘festive atmosphere’ and is labelled an ‘elegant space’. It is a popular spot for youngsters as it is believed that it is one of the few bars on the resort that lets in under 18-year-olds.
It has been claimed that the fire started from sparklers placed in champagne bottles but officials have said that further time will be needed to confirm the cause of the blaze. It has been reported that Mrs Moretti was inside the bar when the flames engulfed it and has suffered burns to her arm.
Sources have said the couple are in “complete shock”. It is understood that her husband was working at another one of their venues, of which they have opened two following the success of ‘Le Constellation’.
Mrs Moretti was injured in the blaze (Image: LinkedIn)
Local media has previously praised the pair for their hard work who said they were “brimming with energy” for their projects. However, they now will be questioned around the blaze at the bar, which was located in a previously abandoned building.
New footage shows the moment that the ceiling appears to catch alight as champagne bottles filled with sparklers come into contact with the material. A witness told BFM TV: “During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter’s shoulders. He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes.”
Another witness added: “The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time.”
Police commander Frédéric Gisler has confirmed the blaze “started in the basement of the bar” and there was a crush as people desperately tried to get out via the single staircase. The investigation continues as people are still searching for their loved ones.
