Huge fire at derelict Grosvenor Hotel in Bristol started 'deliberately'

A large fire at a derelict hotel in Bristol city centre was started deliberately, the fire service has said.

On 18 October emergency services were called to the Grosvenor Hotel at around 10pm, after the blaze broke out on the ground floor.

Thick smoke filled the air as the fire spread, and people were urged to avoid the area.

A number of nearby roads were closed and the building was evacuated.

A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: "Following an extensive fire investigation, including information gained from previous recent calls to the same premises, fire investigators have determined the cause of the fire in the Grosvenor House Hotel to be deliberate."

The property is privately owned but has been empty for 20 years.

Following years of debate as to what should happen to the former hotel, Bristol City Council revealed plans to acquire it via a compulsory purchase order in November 2018.

Despite the damage to the building, the council says it still wants to continue with plans surrounding its redevelopment.

Police are also treating the fire as deliberate.

A spokesperson from Avon and Somerset Police said: “An investigation is being carried out into a fire at the former Grosvenor Hotel premises in Victoria Street, Bristol, which is currently being treated as deliberate.

“We’d appeal to anyone who was in the area of the former hotel on the evening of Tuesday 18 October, to contact us if they saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area, or if they have any information on who was responsible.

“We’ve already taken some calls from members of the public and we’ll be following up all information provided.

“If you can help, please call us on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222251599.”