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Fire breaks out in Sussex seafront hotel
An investigation is underway after a fire broke out in the basement of an historic hotel on the seafront at Eastbourne, Sussex
Around 130 guests and staff were quickly evacuated from the Claremont Hotel when the blaze started on Friday morning.
A small number of guests suffered minor injuries, which were treated onsite by paramedics.
"Our hotel team has been working closely with the local authorities and emergency services and will be supporting all investigations going forward," said George Brown, group managing director of coach holiday specialist Daish Holidays which owns the hotel.
"We have already arranged for return travel home today for all the guests who were staying at the hotel. Guests who were due to check into the hotel in the near future have been contacted by Daish’s Holidays, and we are in the process of informing guests who have hotel bookings over the coming days, weeks and months, to assist them with alternative arrangements.
"It is clear that this fire has caused significant damage to the Claremont Hotel, a Grade II Listed building which is not only one of our most popular hotels, but also a prominent and historic Eastbourne landmark.
"We are devastated at the loss of the hotel and will be working tirelessly to support everyone affected by the damage, including current and future guests, employees and local residents.
"We would like to thank the emergency services, the local community and businesses for their support at this difficult time, in particular the Pier Hotel, Afton Hotel and Queens Hotel, who kindly took in our guests and supported our team with looking after our guests."
About 60 firefighters and 12 engines were sent to tackle the fire. The nearby Pier Hotel was also evacuated.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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