Grosvenor Hotel Bristol: Fire service issues statement on where blaze started

A huge fire at the derelict Grosvenor Hotel in Bristol city centre broke out in the ground floor of the building, says Avon Fire and Rescue Service. The service has released a statement tonight (October 18) as firefighters battled the blaze.

The service was called to the hotel in Victoria Street at just before 10pm tonight. Pictures and videos on social media soon emerged of fire crews at the scene of the historic hotel which was last reportedly lived in by a lone squatter.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said there were no casualities, and that people have been evacuated safely from a neighbouring building.

The full statement read: “Our Control Room received a call at 21:58 regarding an incident on Victoria Street in Bristol city centre and have taken a large volume of calls since.

“On arrival, crews from Temple, Bedminster, Hicks Gate, Kingswood, Patchway, Avonmouth, Bath and Weston-Super-Mare found a fire on the ground floor of a derelict building and are working to tackle the blaze.

“There were fortunately no casualties. A number of people were safely evacuated from a neighbouring building. We advise people to avoid the area while the incident is ongoing.”

The Grosvenor Hotel opened in 1875 and at its peak it was a 70-bedroom hotel which served people arriving by train to the city. But following closure, the hotel has fallen into ruin.

Bristol City Council has plans to purchase the building as part of a regeneration plan for the area.