Fire breaks out at former Scottish rail station hotel

Stars who have performed at the former hotel have included Billy Connolly and Tom Jones.

Firefighters are tackling a blaze at the site of a former station hotel in Ayr.

Fire and ambulance crews are in attendance at the former Ayr Station Hotel amid reports of smoke billowing from the south end of the building.

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ScotRail said Ayr train station had been evacuated as a precaution, with rail services subsequently disrupted.

The derelict Ayr Station Hotel had been served with a dangerous buildings notice because of its poor condition. Picture: N HackettThe derelict Ayr Station Hotel had been served with a dangerous buildings notice because of its poor condition. Picture: N Hackett
The derelict Ayr Station Hotel had been served with a dangerous buildings notice because of its poor condition. Picture: N Hackett

A tweet from Network Rail Scotland said: “We’re on site at Ayr station, working closely with the emergency services following reports of a fire at the former station hotel.

Rail services are being disrupted in the area. Please follow @ScotRail for the latest service info.”

Campaigners Save Britain’s Heritage have previously called for the “splendid landmark” to be rescued.

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Built in 1885 in a French chateau cum Scottish baronial style, the hotel has been derelict for ten years.

Its success prompted the Glasgow and South Western Railway company to build the Turnberry Hotel – now Trump Turnberry – in 1906.

The council served a dangerous building notice on the building in 2018.

The cost of restoring the hotel had been put at £9.95 million in October 2019.

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