Sparkling candles at La Guérite: Cannes vs the restaurant

A video of sparklers being served at the La Guérite restaurant on the island of Sainte-Marguerite drew a wave of criticism and an inspection by Cannes municipal services on 13 July 2026. The restaurant says it operated in strict compliance with the rules.

The video caused a stir

Footage spread on social media showing La Guérite staff serving bottles topped with sparklers. Users immediately recalled the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland: on the night of 1 January 2026, 41 people died there, and investigators linked the blaze to sparklers on champagne bottles.

City hall and the restaurant disagree

The city’s position is that such candles are not permitted on the island of Sainte-Marguerite because of the fire risk. The restaurant disagrees: as Cannes Tendances reports, La Guérite said it had acted “in strict compliance with the regulations” and disputes several of the city’s claims.

Why the region does not take fire lightly

The coast has already seen serious incidents involving open flames. In November 2024, a bioethanol fireplace caught fire on the terrace of Caveau 30 in Cannes: five guests were injured and the venue was shut for six months. In July 2025, at the club You in Juan-les-Pins, a bartender set the counter alight with spirits while serving a “flaming cocktail” — a 21-year-old customer suffered severe burns. More on this in “Fire spectacles of the French Riviera”.

More inspections

Cannes has carried out 224 inspections of venues since 2025, plus another 122 in the first half of 2026. After Crans-Montana, the city launched a dedicated programme for nightclubs: 23 venues were briefed on the ban on pyrotechnics, candles and ethanol lamps — especially under awnings and canopies. The city’s response to fires is also visible in the blaze on rue Latour-Maubourg.

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Photo: Zhanna Alimkulova / Pexels