A hotel once dubbed “Britain’s worst” has gone up in flames for the second time in just a matter of days, prompting warnings for nearby residents to stay indoors.

Emergency crews were called to the Sherwood Palm Hotel in Torquay on Easter Sunday after a blaze broke out at around 2pm, only two days after a previous fire at the same site.

Initial reports saw four fire engines and an aerial ladder platform dispatched, before additional resources were requested as the incident escalated.

By 2.30pm, two more fire engines, a second aerial ladder platform and an incident commander had been sent to the scene.

Devon and Cornwall Police urged the public to avoid the area, warning that large amounts of smoke were affecting the surrounding neighbourhood.

The force said: “Please avoid the area for the time being. The advice is for residents, and particularly those nearest to the hotel, to close all windows and doors to prevent any health issues.”

The latest blaze follows another incident on Friday morning, when five fire engines were called to the hotel after multiple emergency calls. That fire was eventually brought under control later in the day.

The Sherwood Palm, a former three-star hotel on Belgrave Road, has a troubled recent history. It was previously hit by a fire in March 2024 and was shut down for three months in October 2025 after police described it as an “anti-social behaviour magnet”.

The hotel has also drawn criticism from guests. Canadian tourist Jason Smith described his stay as “horrific”, claiming he encountered mould, unclean conditions and even blood-stained sheets during a four-night visit.

The cause of the latest fires has not yet been confirmed, and investigations are ongoing.