Fire sparks plans fora relaunch
01 January 2000
A fire destroyed most of the Philipburn House Hotel in Selkirk, Borders, last week after a candle fell over in the bar.
The blaze spread rapidly through the 16-bedroom building, which dates back to 1751. Sixteen guests and eight staff were evacuated. No one was hurt.
But the hotel suffered "hundreds of thousands of pounds" worth of damage, according to partner Pelham Hill. "The whole hotel is a write off at the moment. All we've got left is the conference room and the main shell of the building," said Mr Hill.
The family plans to relaunch the country house hotel next Easter, to coincide with 25 years of their ownership. "We'll be back and we'll be better," said Mr Hill.
