Oxford's fire-hit Randolph Hotel to reopen after £6.5m makeover

The fire is believed to have been sparked by a flambéed beef stroganoff

Parts of a five-star hotel in Oxford which were damaged in a major blaze are to reopen in the spring.

The 150-year-old Randolph Hotel was hit by a fire in April caused by a flambéed beef stroganoff.

Rooms which were damaged are undergoing a £6.5m refurbishment and will reopen in March or April, a spokeswoman said.

Most of the hotel, which is popular with celebrities and fictional Inspector Morse, reopened more than two weeks after the fire.

The hotel is popular with celebrities and Bill Clinton has previously stayed there

The fire was in the kitchen of the grade II listed building and ripped through three floors.

The hotel was closed for more than two weeks but only about 5% of the building was damaged.

As part of revamp of the hotel in Beaumont Street bedrooms are being refurbished and a champagne bar is being added.

At the height of the blaze, 14 fire engines were on the scene as crews battled the blaze whilst thick black smoke spread across the city.

More than 80 people were evacuated, though there were no reported injuries.

The Randolph Hotel is in Oxford city centre