A police investigation is underway today into a fire at a Grade II-listed seafront hotel in Eastbourne.
Fire crews were called shortly after 8pm last night to the Claremont Hotel in Grand Parade.
Two crews from Eastbourne and one from Pevensey Bay arrived to find smoke pouring from the ground floor of the two-storey annex.
They managed to bring the blaze under control within 20 minutes but the area was badly smoke and fire damaged.
Firefighters ventilated the 57-room hotel and stayed on scene until 1.30am today. A nearby road was closed off.
Scenes of crime officers later arrived to investigate the fire.
The hotel was built on the site of a grand Roman villa overlooking the Channel, directly opposite the famous 125-year-old Carpet Gardens.
No one was available for comment at the Victorian hotel this morning.
A fire brigade spokesman said about six staff were evacuated but no guests were staying as it is undergoing refurbishment.
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