Historic hotel fined for fire alarm system failure

The Hind Hotel was a resting point for Oliver Cromwell's army before the Battle of Naseby in 1645

A 17th Century hotel has been fined £75,000 for not fixing a faulty fire alarm system within four months.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said it took action after the Hind Hotel on Sheep Street, Wellingborough, had not completed requests made in an enforcement notice.

Hind Wellingborough Limited pleaded guilty to breaching fire safety legislation at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

In a statement, the hotel said it "holds its hands up as having been negligent", but said most issues had been sorted out and the outstanding issue was completed by November 2024.

The fire service said its protection team carried out an inspection at the Grade II-listed premises on 21 May 2024, and found a faulty fire alarm system that may not have worked properly for three years.

The hotel was then served an enforcement notice to rectify the faults.

A follow-up inspection a few months later, on 10 September, found the former coaching inn had failed to comply with the required actions and a decision was taken to prosecute the business, the fire service added.

The company was ordered to pay a £75,000 fine, costs of £4,200 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.

The hotel, in the centre of the town, was a resting point for Oliver Cromwell's army before the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

'Mistakes were made'

Scott Richards, head of protection at the fire service, said the hotel was given "every opportunity to rectify their fire safety alarm system".

"We hope that the sentencing of this premises serves as a reminder that should they choose to put their customers at risk, then we will take clear and decisive action to hold them to account for failing to keep people safe," he added.

The hotel said on Facebook that it "holds its hands up as having been negligent".

"The issues requiring remedy were largely completed by the deadline date but one substantive matter remained outstanding (although being addressed)."

It confirmed to the BBC that all issues were resolved by November 2024.

It added that "mistakes were made" and it now "wishes to put this matter behind us".