Hotel's ex-owners fined £25,000 over fire safety

The prosecution followed a fire at the hotel in March, 2007, when 10 guests were trapped in their bedrooms and had to be rescued from first-floor windows by firefighters using ladders.

Sussex Fire and Rescue service said fire investigations revealed a catalogue of poor fire safety management at the hotel. The fire alarm panel had previously been switched to 'silent', meaning warning sounders did not work when the blaze broke out.

As a result, guests received no early warning that a fire was burning in the corridor immediately outside their rooms.

Staff did not receive adequate fire safety training, fire alarms were not being tested correctly, fire doors were wedged open and there was no suitable emergency plan in case a blaze did break out.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette April 30