Police are appealing for help in catching the arsonists responsible for a fire at an Alderley Edge bar.

Detectives have concluded that the blaze which engulfed Panacea bar and restaurant, on London Road, on March 12, was deliberately started. They are hunting two men seen fleeing the scene in a dark car just moments after it went up in flames.

Detective Inspector Robert Hassal has appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He said: “We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw a dark coloured BMW or Audi shortly before 10.30pm.”

The men were seen arriving by car, walking towards the building and leaving in the car shortly before 10.30pm. More than 50 firefighters tackled the flames through the night.

Firefighters from across Cheshire and Greater Manchester were scrambled to the popular nightspot after plumes of smoke and flames were seen pouring from the building’s roof.

It is understood that the majority of the damage was caused to the restaurant section of the venue – which was due to open as a new Piccolino restaurant later this year.

A spokeswoman for Piccolino’s said plans have been put on hold until the investigation is completed. She said: “Following the fire at Panacea Alderley Edge, the plans to open a Piccolino restaurant in Alderley Edge have had to be put on hold.

“Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze and no works to the restaurant had commenced as it was in the planning phase.”

Jean Pickering, owner of The Yard and member of the Alderley Business Group, said: “The biggest thing is the how it will affect the village. It’s not a particularly nice thing to see as soon as you enter the village so as soon as it gets sorted the better. That’s the priority for the village.”

Coun Frank Keegan, who represents Alderley Edge, added: “It is a loss to the community. It would have made the village more popular because it would have been an added restaurant and there were probably about 40 people going to work there so that won’t happen, at least not in the immediate future, which is a shame.”

A Cheshire police spokeswoman said: “We believe the fire was started deliberately.”

The venue was also badly damaged by a fire in 2008.

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.