Hotel group pays out £127,000 for ‘substantial risks’

A hotel group has paid out more than £127,000 after a judge ruled that guests at a 160-capacity luxury hotel in Cheshire had been put at ‘substantial risk’.

The failures at the Belfry House Hotel, which is situated in Wilmslow, resulted in owners Hallmark Hotel Group pleaded guilty to three serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.

Fire-fighters first identified the problems during a routine visit in 11 April 2008. The visit was carried out under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 to obtain information needed to fight a fire on the premises, should one occur.

Specialist fire safety inspectors from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Community Fire Protection Department subsequently visited the hotel, which was undergoing major renovations.

Numerous failings were identified, including the fire alarm not working, breaches in fire-resisting walls, an inadequate fire risk assessment, poor staff training and conflicting safety signage. In addition, there was not a single working fire alarm on the third floor of the building, while faulty smoke detectors and substandard fire escape routes were found on other floors.

A prohibition notice was served on the hotel that day, since the deficiencies posed a very real threat to guests, staff and contractors. The notice was withdrawn four days later following remedial fire alarm work and the implementation of new procedures, as well as a new fire risk assessment being in place.

Judge Elgin Edwards told the court: ‘For people who run hotels, fire security is particularly important. This company carried on trading and taking guests when quite clearly the guests were put at substantial risk.’

Hallmark Hotel Group was fined £25,000 for each of the three offences and ordered to pay costs of £52,585 to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.