The Penhallow Hotel was situated on Island Crescent in the surfing town of Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was a well-known hotel for holiday makers ranging from families to older residents. The hotel was a typical 1960s building with a wooden fire escape at the rear, and a central light shaft running from the ground floor up to the roof in the centre of the hotel. Both of these aspects of the building played a dramatic role in the outcome of the fire. The Penhallow Hotel Fire was reported as the "Worst Hotel Fire in 40 Years".On the night of 18 August 2007 shortly after midnight a power cut was reported followed shortly by the fire alarm activating and soon smoke was seen in the building.
