Fire at empty hotel 'inevitable' - council leader

A council leader and town MP have called on the owners of an empty Victorian hotel to do more to protect the building following reports of a fire there.

Avon Fire and Rescue confirmed it was called to "a small fire" at the Grand Atlantic Hotel in Weston-super-Mare at 14:50 BST on Thursday, but said the blaze was out on arrival.

North Somerset Council leader, Mike Bell, said the fire "felt inevitable given the repeated anti-social behaviour and break-ins" there, and MP Dan Aldridge again called for the iconic building to be brought back into use.

Owners, the Fragrance Group, have been approached for comment. Last month, a spokesperson said the "safety and security" of the hotel was a priority.

They also said a steel perimeter had been installed to secure the seafront site, along with CCTV and 24-hour monitoring.

Bell said the improvements have made a difference, but he would like to see more.

"They've got to make sure they've secured all the entrances and exits to the building; they've done a reasonable job on the ground floor, but some of the upper floors are still accessible," he said.

The Grand Atlantic Hotel first opened as a private boys' school in 1859 before becoming a hotel in 1889.

The hotel closed for a multi-million pound revamp in 2025.

Last month, it was revealed that urban explorers have filmed themselves breaking into the empty hotel.

Videos posted on social media showed graffiti on the walls, and furniture and rubbish strewn across the floor.

Aldridge said in a statement: "Buildings like the Grand Atlantic are hugely significant to Weston and should not be left standing empty for years on end...

"Clearly, there are questions that now need answering. A landmark building of this size, in one of the most prominent locations on our seafront, should be creating jobs and welcoming visitors, not becoming a danger to the public and a source of worry for residents."

He went on to say that he was speaking with government officials about powers around tackling long-term vacant buildings and was working with the council to find ways of bringing the building back into use.

South West Ambulance Service said it was also called to the fire on Thursday, but confirmed there were no injuries.

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