Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone
Fire Damage Recovery | Structural Stabilisation | Project Management
Project Update | October 2026
Following the fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone in September 2026, The Bloomsbury Group (Southern) Ltd was appointed to assist Britannia Hotels with the emergency response, site safety, structural assessments and coordination of the recovery works.
Working alongside the client, structural engineers, specialist contractors and local authorities, our team has been coordinating the initial response and developing a structured approach to making the affected areas safe and progressing the next stages of the project.
Initial emergency response
Our involvement commenced immediately following the incident, with priority given to securing the site, establishing safe working arrangements and coordinating the initial structural assessments.
Working closely with the appointed structural engineers and relevant authorities, we assisted with establishing exclusion zones, temporary access arrangements and site safety procedures.
Structural assessments and temporary works
Initial structural inspections have been undertaken to assess the impact of the fire on the affected sections of the building.
Further investigations are being coordinated to establish the condition of the existing structure, particularly within areas where access remains restricted.
Our team is working with structural engineers and temporary works specialists to develop appropriate support arrangements for the affected floor structures and to facilitate safe access for subsequent investigations and recovery works.
Environmental testing and clearance strategy
Independent asbestos sampling has been undertaken across the affected basement and ground-floor areas to inform the clearance methodology.
The results have assisted in reviewing the proposed approach to debris removal, with the aim of establishing a safe, proportionate and commercially efficient clearance strategy.
Further assessments and appropriate safety controls will continue to form part of the works as access and clearance progress.
Infrastructure and access coordination
A key priority is facilitating safe access for UK Power Networks to assess and undertake the necessary works associated with electrical infrastructure serving the site.
This requires careful coordination between debris clearance, temporary structural support and the relevant specialist contractors.
Bloomsbury continues to liaise with the client, engineers and other stakeholders to establish a coordinated programme for these activities.
Next stage of works
The project is now progressing towards the next phase of structural stabilisation and controlled clearance.
The immediate priorities include finalising specialist contractor proposals, agreeing the clearance and temporary works methodologies, establishing safe access to critical infrastructure and undertaking further structural investigations.
The Bloomsbury Group continues to provide project management, construction management and technical coordination services to support Britannia Hotels throughout the recovery process.
Our approach remains focused on safety, effective coordination, cost control and delivering a practical route towards the building’s recovery.
Project photographs
Earlier site photographs
