Hotelier fined £200,000 for breaking Fire Safety rules

The owner of a Suffolk hotel has been fined a total of more than £200,000 after serious Fire Safety failures were found.

John Nevin 59, of the Brandon House Hotel in Brandon admitted breaching fire service regulations when he appeared before Ipswich Crown Court.  The court were informed after buying the 22 bedroom hotel in 2003.  Mr Nevin began a conversition programme without proper consideration of Fire Safety rules.  Evidence was given that when fire officers visited in 2004 they had found that a function room had been converted into bedrooms without a proper fire escape being installed. 

Also during a second visit in 2006 fire officers were so concerned about the fire safety their, they had served a prohibition notice preventing any use of the second floor until the changes had been done. 

The owner said that the rectifications in the hotel had been made and was fully compliant with all the fire regulations. 

In  passing sentence judge John Holt said “The potential for risk of a serious injury to guests while they slept in your hotel was considerable”  Mr Nevins who the court was told had assets of £10 million was fined £145,000 with £58,000 costs.