A string of serious fires hit British hotels last week, starting with the destruction of the Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton, and continuing with big fires in Margate and Bristol.
The blaze at the Royal Albion - the largest fire Brighton had seen for more than 20 years - started on the morning of Tuesday 24 November while staff were preparing breakfast in the ground-floor kitchen.
Burning fat from a pan of sausages and eggs started spitting into an overhead flue. Although staff promptly extinguished the pan fire, the flames shot through the extractor ducting up to the roof, spreading fire on each floor.
More than 160 firefighters fought the blaze throughout the day. At one point two five-tonne chimney stacks came crashing through the roof, completely destroying the top floor and the ground-floor dining room.
All guests and staff were evacuated safely. Many were left standing outside in freezing cold weather, with no shoes and wearing only towels or nightclothes. They were quickly moved to the foyer of the nearby Thistle hotel while staff arranged for alternative accommodation at other seafront hotels.
After the fire, the Royal Albion had to contend with looting. A waiter (not from the Royal Albion) was caught stealing a TV and video recorder from the charred remains of the building and has been ordered to do 60 hours community service after admitting burglary. Anthony O'Kane, 22, was arrested by police after he was spotted walking out of the Royal Albion with the equipment in his arms two days after the fire.
The Royal Albion was taken over by Manchester-based Britannia Hotels last year for an estimated £4m. The cost of rebuilding could be as high as £7m.
Although it appears the building was adequately insured, there is speculation as to whether or not the contents were covered. Britannia Hotels refused to comment.
By Adrian Monti