Around 90 people from Pavilion Court on Marine Terrace have been temporarily rehoused after safety inspectors warned that a major basement fire at the neighbouring Grand Burstin Hotel may have weakened the building’s structure.

What happened overnight

A fire broke out in the basement of the Grand Burstin Hotel on Marine Parade, Folkestone, at around 01:05 on 19 September 2026. Kent Fire and Rescue Service sent about 26 fire engines and a height vehicle to tackle the blaze — that’s roughly half the county’s entire pumping fleet at one location. Some 280 guests and staff were evacuated from the hotel. No fire-related injuries were reported.

Why Pavilion Court residents had to leave

The scale of the basement fire prompted structural safety inspectors to raise concerns about potential progressive collapse — where damage to one part of a building causes a chain reaction of failure — or falling debris affecting properties next door. On the evening of the same day as the fire, Folkestone & Hythe District Council acted on that advice and organised the relocation of around 90 Pavilion Court residents to temporary hotel accommodation in Folkestone. The council’s housing team is now working to arrange longer-term housing while further structural assessments and any remedial works are carried out at the Grand Burstin.

The council set up a welfare centre at Three Hills Sports Park, offering food, shelter, and face-to-face support from housing officers for both evacuated hotel guests and displaced Pavilion Court residents.

The case for acting quickly — and the concerns it raises

The council says the relocation is a precautionary measure while the hotel’s structural integrity remains uncertain, and that the response follows the more cautious approach to fire-damaged large buildings that has become standard practice nationally since the Grenfell Tower disaster. Multi-agency working with Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent Police, the council argues, should speed up information-sharing and technical decisions.

But the disruption for Pavilion Court residents is real and, for some, severe. Families with children, older people, and disabled residents face upheaval at short notice. Many will have questions about how long they’ll be away, whether their belongings are secure while their flats sit inside a cordon, and what happens to their rent, service charges, and council tax while they can’t go home. Housing charities typically urge councils to move people out of emergency hotel rooms and into stable accommodation as quickly as possible — prolonged hotel stays are particularly hard on families.

Police treating fire as suspicious

Kent Police have confirmed the Grand Burstin Hotel fire is being treated as suspicious, and an investigation is under way. That classification means the fire scene is effectively a potential crime scene. Forensic work can delay structural engineers getting full access, which in turn could push back any decision on when — or whether — residents can return to Pavilion Court.

Questions are also likely to be raised about the hotel’s fire-safety record and maintenance history, though no findings on those matters have been published.

Advice for residents nearby

Residents living along Marine Parade, Marine Terrace, and the wider harbour area who have not been evacuated are advised by the council and emergency services to close windows and doors, avoid the area unless essential, and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.

The council will update Pavilion Court residents through its housing team as structural assessments progress.

Key information

  • Displaced Pavilion Court residents should contact Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s housing team directly for updates on longer-term rehousing options and support.
  • Three Hills Sports Park is open as a welfare centre for evacuated hotel guests and affected residents needing food, shelter, or housing advice.
  • Nearby residents not relocated should keep windows and doors closed, avoid the immediate hotel area, and follow all instructions from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent Police.
  • No return date for Pavilion Court residents has been confirmed — this depends on the outcome of structural assessments and the police investigation.