Isle of Thanet Gazette, 19th March 1932.

Margate Hotel Fire.

Room Gutted Sequel to Preparation for Easter.

Considerable damage was caused by an outbreak of fire which occurred at "Prince’s Hotel," Eastern Esplanade, Margate on Monday morning.

A quantity of bedding was placed round a fire in a first floor bedroom to air, becoming ignited probably through a pillow or some other article falling into the fireplace, and the room was gutted.

Shortly before 10.30 am, Miss Welsh, the cook, smelt something burning and informed the porter, Albert Edward Young, who traced the outbreak to the bedroom in which the bedding was airing. Mr Young tried to extinguish the flames with buckets of water, but was driven out of the room by smoke. Members of the staff procured a hose, but were prevented by smoke from fixing it to the bathroom tap. The porter shouted to taxi drivers on a nearby cab rank to telephone for the Fire Brigade, who turned out promptly under Superintendent Hawkins, and on arrival found smoke issuing from every window in the building.

The bedroom was then well alight and flames were shooting out of the door and spreading towards the staircase. The Brigade set to work with the hose and the outbreak was quickly extinguished.

The fire was confined to one room and the landing was damaged on the ground floor and basement.

The Fire Brigade left the building about noon. The whole of the building and contents are insured. The hotel is occupied by the Misses McKey and A E West and is in charge of a manageress, Miss Maule.

It has been closed for the winter and preparations were being made to open the premises for Easter.