Grosvenor Hotel Bristol: Firefighters dealing with huge fire at derelict hotel in St Mary Redcliffe

A huge fire has broken out in the St Mary Redcliffe area of Bristol city centre tonight. Fire crews are tackling the blaze from the Grosvenor Hotel in Victoria Street.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service received the first call to the hotel at 9.58pm, and ‘has taken a large volume of 999 call since’. People are being urged to avoid the area. In an update at just before midnight, the service said there had been no casualties, and that people in a neighbouring building had been safely evacuated.

From the scene the bright red glow of a fire can be seen within the old hotel, while outside Temple Way has been closed in both directions with a cordon. Fire crews are continuing to battle the blaze from up high and at ground level.

Nathan Pumpkin was among the first people who saw the fire when coming back to stay at the Doubletree Hilton close by. He told Bristol World: “We came back from dinner and saw lots of smoke, flames and ash raining down above us. Within a few minutes the fire service and closed off the road and began tackling the blaze.

“The surrounding area is an eerie, silent grey looking. People seem to be keeping their distance and respecting the road closures. Back in the hotel now but we can still see smoke and flames pouring into the skyline.”

Shortly after 10pm, images and video started flooding onto social media of the fire. One Twitter user wrote: “Sadly the derelict Grosvenor Hotel is on fire.”

Green Party Councillor for Windmill Hill, Ed Plowden, shared a video of firefighters using jets on the disused hotel. He said: “Lots of smoke and fire appliances at the old Grovesnor hotel in Bristol.” Before adding: “It is really taking off now.”

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement: “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 was the work of architect S C Fripp, who had worked as Brunel’s assistant on designing the nearby Temple Meads station.

At its peak, the 70-bedroom hotel served as a grand place for people arriving by train to the city. But following closure, the hotel has become a shadow of itself with rotting furniture filling the rooms and graffiti covering the walls.

It was last reported that a squatter lived inside. The city council has plans to purchase the site as part of regeneration plan for the area.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service has been contacted for more information on the ongoing incident.

More to follow