Ferocious fire destroys famous Tenby landmark

Mar 24 2008 Steffan Rhys, Western Mail

A SECTION of one of Wales’ most famous facades was reduced to rubble yesterday by a “horrendous” fire which took more than 120 firefighters to control.

Around 35 tourists staying in Tenby had to be evacuated in the middle of the busy Bank Holiday weekend after the devastating blaze engulfed the disused five-storey Royal Gate House Hotel.

The holidaymakers were evacuated from the nearby Lion Hotel and flats which are close by but no one was injured.

By late last night most of those evacuated from nearby premises had been allowed to return.

The Royal Gate House Hotel, which was clad with scaffolding, is a central part of Tenby’s historic White Lion Street – the colourful row of houses and hotels that forms the backdrop to the town’s famous North Beach.

During the Pembrokeshire resort’s Victorian heyday, it would have been one of its most sought-after place to stay.

But yesterday morning, all that was left of its coastal side was a smoking hole

The fire at the unoccupied 59-room hotel was reported to Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service at around 11pm on Saturday night and 14 fire engines from as far away as Aberystwyth and Swansea were called to deal with the incident.

Parts of the premises were still burning yesterday evening and fire crews were expected to stay at the scene through last night. (SUN)

All the hotel’s floors were on fire and a neighbouring tanning studio and cinema were for a time also thought to be under threat.

Much of the hotel had collapsed, including its roof and front wall, and fire crews were withdrawn from the building because of fears over its infrastructure.

Several roads in Tenby were closed yesterday and police had to draft in extra officers to deal with the crowds of people who had gathered to watch the fire from the beach.

Eyewitness Jenny Dennis, who is on holiday in Tenby, said, “I was woken by what sounded like fireworks. There were extremely loud cracking sounds which must have been the beams collapsing.

“At 2.30am the flames were so high it was incredible, spectacular. It is the most horrendous fire I have ever seen.

“The whole building was up from the ground to the ceiling with flames pouring out of the window. It has been completely gutted.

“It looked out of control but the fire service did amazingly well to get it under control.”

Another eyewitness said, “About a third of the hotel’s front has collapsed entirely leaving a huge hole the size of a building. There is scaffolding that looks like it has melted because of the fire’s ferocity. The whole roof has gone and the building is still smoking. It looks like they’ve still got a pump damping down the embers. There are probably still around 12 fire engines around the town. The hotel is completely destroyed and will probably be demolished.”

It is the second time in five years a fire has broken out at the now empty hotel. In 2003, 84 guests were led to safety after a fire which started shortly after midnight.

Mid and West Wales county commander for Pembrokeshire Nick Webley (COR) said, “We expect to be here for the rest of the day and the night.

“There are still small pockets of fire and we can’t get in to put them out.

“It’s a matter of getting demolition crews in there.

“It was a serious fire, it really was, and the building is lost, there’s no doubt about that.

“All credit to the firefighters who stopped it spreading and no one got hurt, which is a result.”

The fire started in the hotel’s middle floors but Mr Webley said he would not speculate on its causes and an investigation is set to begin.

“Police and fire officers are interviewing witnesses. It will be treated as a crime scene until it’s proven not to be,” said Mr Webley.

Assistant chief fire officer Phil Bailey said, “Firefighting conditions were difficult due to the unsafe structure of the building and the close proximity of other properties.”