Blaze causes holiday disruption

By Jemima Laing
BBC News

Ian Strang was able to return to his hotel on Saturday night

As with any popular holiday destination, Saturday is changeover day in Newquay - a flurry of activity as some guests leave and others arrive at their holiday accommodation.

But the time-honoured sequence of events was thrown into complete disarray by the fire which gutted the Penhallow Hotel, two doors away from Ian Strang's hotel - the St Andrew's.

Guests who were due to arrive at his establishment were unable to move in and those who were due to end their holiday couldn't retrieve their belongings and luggage.

"No-one could go and no-one could come, all the information we needed was still in the hotel, so it was a bit tricky," said Mr Strang, who has run the eight-bedroom hotel since 1999.

"Our phone line has been cut too so we only have mobiles.

It does smell a bit here Ian Strang Safety work at hotel Eyewitnesses describe drama Guests offered refuge

"We managed to get hold of one lot of guests to stop them coming and another lot who had already arrived have been given alternative accommodation.

"That was arranged by Restormel Borough Council who have been brilliant, everyone has."

They were first alerted to the fire by a neighbour.

"When we got to the front door there was a fireman knocking, telling us to get out.

"We got all the guests out and then watched as the Penhallow turned from a smallish fire into an inferno, it was unbelievable."

Mr Strang, his wife Carol and their guests found refuge at the nearby Sunnyside Hotel and were later taken to the Fort Inn.

"The camaraderie was amazing, we were really taken care of."

Mr Strang was eventually allowed back into his hotel on Saturday evening and was able to get details of guests who were supposed to be arriving and to let other guests retrieve their belongings

The Penhallow Hotel before the fire

"It does smell a bit here," he said, but otherwise the building is undamaged.

His Sunday is now being spent carrying out the well-rehearsed clean-up routine, which should have been done on Saturday, ready to welcome guests to the hotel.

"I don't suppose you can really say things are getting back to normal," said Mr Strang.

"The street looks strange without the Penhallow, it was a lovely hotel and my heart really goes out to the staff and people affected."