A Byron Bay flagship nightclub has been forced closure after fire plagued the venue on Saturday night.

Emergency services were summoned to La La Land to assist evacuations at 9.30pm, with firefighters removing 50 backpackers from a nearby hostel and 20 patrons from within the venue. Luckily none of those evacuated sustained injuries from the fire, but the majority of the contents of the venue were destroyed and the building itself was victim to foundational damage.

The fire comes as a serious blow to the owners of La La Land, whom had wrapped up major refurbishments in December.

“I saw a bit of smoke ­coming out. We got everyone out, and it seemed like nothing at first. But it got out of control and then, suddenly, there were 1.5m flames at the back of the building,” a staff member told The Australian.

“When the firefighters got here, it got scary and it looked like something out of a movie.”