Detectives were this morning working alongside Fire Service investigation specialists to establish what sparked the blaze at the Stafford Hotel in Kensington Place.
A 36-year-old man was arrested close to the hotel last night and was this morning in police custody waiting to be questioned.
The owner of the hotel, developer Richard Brocken, who hopes to turn it into a private hospital, said he was getting the hotel ready for its busiest season for many years.
Many of the rooms had just been repainted and Mr Brocken said he had been in the hotel yesterday complimenting the manager on the great job that had been done.
‘Bookings for the hotel were the best we’ve ever had,’ said Mr Brocken.
‘We were supposed to open in four weeks, and I am sending a team of guys in there as soon as possible to see if we can still achieve that, but four weeks is not a long time.’
