SKDC investigation after 'explosion' at The George

Mystery surrounds exactly what happened during a fire at one of Stamford’s oldest and most popular hotels.

Four fire crews were called to The George Hotel in High Street St Martin’s on Saturday, August 11 after a fire broke out in the kitchen.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue received the call at 8.20pm.

Staff and guests were evacuated from the hotel as a matter of safety, but were allowed back in at 10pm and the hotel was open as usual the following day.

A fire and rescue spokesperson said: “Light damage was caused to kitchen utensils and moderate damage to the kitchen.

“It was extinguished by using one hose reel and two breathing apparatus.

“The cause was a blowtorch accidentally left on a hotplate.”

But according to a spokesman for the hotel, the incident was due to “equipment failure” in the main kitchen.

South Kesteven District Council’s deputy leader Kelham Cooke reported that an “explosion” had taken place in the kitchen and that staff were injured.

In a Tweet the day after the incident Coun Cooke said: “Thoughts are with the staff injured at the George Hotel in #Stamford, after an explosion in the kitchen last night.

“Our teams are on the ground as an investigation is required for Health and Safety.”

The spokesman for the hotel refused to comment on staff being injured and attempts made to get further comment from hotel management this week were unsuccessful.

SKDC cabinet member for the environment coun Dr Peter Moseley (Con), confirmed that the council is carrying out a health and safety investigation into the cause of the incident.

He said: “It is one of the district council’s duties to carry out investigations into accidents at hotels.

“We take this responsibility extremely seriously.”

According to information on The George’s website, the exact age of the hotel is not known but an inn has stood by the Welland River crossing for more than a thousand years.