LIVE: Newquay hotel is on fire as smoke billows into the sky

A large riverside hotel in Newquay is understood to be currently ablaze with up to six fire appliances in attendance. Reports are coming in that the grand Hotel California on Pentire Crescent, which closed at the end of 2021, is fully alight and thick black smoke can be seen billowing from around the area.

Gillian Barrie told CornwallLive: “The Hotel California is Newquay is currently on fire. I was just out walking the dog – called the fire brigade at 4.15pm – they were on their way. It’s now fully operational. The whole building is going.”

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Other witnesses said there were six fire engines at the scene.

In February, Cornwall Live reported how the hotel was to be demolished to make way for a new development after planning permission was approved by Cornwall Council.

The new development at Newquay was expected to see the entire hotel complex demolished and replaced with a residential development. This would include a 20-apartment building and four semi-detached houses at the bottom, with all the new homes enjoying views over the River Gannel.

At the time, CornwallLive reported that demolition work was scheduled to begin once the sale of the site was completed in July, with construction expected to begin by the end of the year.

The former hotel closed in November 2021 with a design and access statement submitted with the planning application stating that “after years of constant decay, the hotel has become obsolete and in a state of disrepair”.

CornwallLive attempted to contact Cornwall Fire Service.

Updates available

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