Staff and guests were evacuated from the Mandarin Oriental hotel in central London, after a blaze took hold of the building. Large, thick plumes of smoke were seen puffing from the roof of the hotel.
Robbie Williams, who was staying at the hotel ahead of a charity football game, was one of hundreds of guests staying at the hotel that had to evacuate because of the fire. A fellow hotel guest shared footage on social media of Robbie braving the fire escape before giving a thumbs up outside the hotel.
The blaze happened just days after the hotel had undergone a £185 million refurbishment. One night in the Mandarin Oriental hotel costs £600-a-night.
More than 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines were dispatched to the smoky scene. The buildings nearby were evacuated and there are no reported injuries.
The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.
The Mandarin Oriental is a favourite hotel for many celebrities, including Dame Helen Mirren, Christian Louboutin and Morgan Freeman. Dame Helen Mirren says she’s a fan of the hotel, where she feels the “natural world is combined with unrivalled luxury and impeccable service”.
