A 17th-century hotel, known as the Hind Hotel located in Wellingborough, has been hit with a £75,000 fine due to serious fire safety violations. The Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service uncovered that the hotel had a malfunctioning fire alarm system which had gone unfixed for a period of three years. Following an inspection on May 21, 2024, the hotel was issued an enforcement notice demanding rectification of the fire alarm deficiencies.
Despite being given several opportunities to comply, a follow-up inspection on September 10 revealed that the hotel, operated by Hind Wellingborough Limited, had failed to address the required changes. Consequently, the company pleaded guilty to breaching fire safety laws at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court and faced not only the hefty fine but also additional costs amounting to £4,200 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.
The Hind Hotel, steeped in history and noted for serving as a resting place for Oliver Cromwell’s army before the pivotal Battle of Naseby in 1645, expressed its acknowledgment of negligence, stating that most of the fire safety issues had been resolved by the deadline, though one major matter needed further attention. The hotel confirmed its commitment to resolving all outstanding issues by November 2024.
Scott Richards, head of protection for the fire service, emphasized the importance of adherence to fire safety regulations, noting that the sentencing should serve as a warning to businesses that negligence in customer safety will result in tangible consequences. The hotel intends to move forward from this incident and learn from the mistakes that led to serious safety oversights.
