A popular London simchah venue has gone up in flames as 120 firefighters battled to fight the blaze.

Guests were evacuated from the five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge at about 4pm. London Ambulance Service confirmed there had been no casualties.

The 12-storey Mandarin Oriental is a frequent host of Jewish wedding and B’nai Mitzvah parties, and communal charity fundraisers. It is one of the venues serviced by renowned kosher caterer Tony Page.

Footage shows flames emerging from the top of the building, and plumes of thick black smoke billowing across central London.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: “The smoke from this large fire was very visible across central London this afternoon and we received a number of emergency calls.

“Firefighters are working extremely hard to bring the fire under control. Crews wearing breathing apparatus are carrying out a search inside the building.

“Firefighters are likely to be there throughout the evening and once the fire has been brought under control fire investigators will take over to establish how the blaze started.”