Brighton fire: police extend cordon around Royal Albion hotel | Brighton

A police cordon around the Royal Albion in Brighton has been extended as the hotel continues to smoulder after a fire broke out on Saturday evening.

Fifteen fire engines from across the south-east were dispatched to the scene just before 5.30pm on Saturday and continued to battle the blaze long into the night.

Firefighters said nobody was injured but “difficult conditions”, caused by high winds along the seafront, led them to evacuate people from nearby buildings.

The fire is believed to have started on the fourth floor of the hotel but the cause remains unknown.

In a statement issued on Sunday, police said: “Closures will be in place overnight. Please stay away from the area and keep windows and doors closed.”

Brighton and Hove council is advising people to continue to avoid the seafront and Old Steine area due to smoke.

Hotel staff are understood to have found other accommodation for all guests and, of the approximately 100 people evacuated from the surrounding area, many are taking refuge at a temporary rest centre set up by the council.

Bella Sankey, the leader of the council, said: “These are very sad scenes in our city this evening. On behalf of the city council, I want to give my thanks to the emergency services for attending the fire at the historic Royal Albion hotel in the heart of our city.

“We urge everyone to continue following advice from emergency services.”

The 219-bedroom regency-style hotel, which overlooks Brighton Palace pier, was built in 1826. It is run by Britannia Hotels.

Part of the building was heritage listed and damaged by fire in November 1998.

Elsewhere on Saturday, thousands of people gathered in the city to mark the 10th anniversary of Trans Pride Brighton.

While organisers expected between 5,000 and 10,000 people to take part – half the original estimate after a yellow weather warning for wind and rain forced a change of route – the event is believed to have attracted 30,000 attenders.

The comedian Eddie Izzard took part, while the Brighton Pavilion MP, Caroline Lucas, and Brighton and Hove’s first trans councillor, Raphael Hill, were among the speakers.

Trans Pride Brighton has asked for anyone displaced by the fire to get in touch.