UK's biggest hotel chain - Premier Inn - admits "concerns" over cladding

Britain’s largest hotel chain – Premier Inn – has admitted it has “concerns” about the cladding used on some of its buildings.

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Premier says it has already investigated three of its hotels in case they do not meet safety regulations.

The hotels – in Maidenhead, Brentford and Tottenham – have been given a “detailed assessment” for safety reasons.

A spokeswoman however said the material used on the buildings was not the same as that used to clad Grenfell Tower, where a devastating blaze left 79 dead or missing presumed dead.

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Despite that, a safety review had been carried out.

“The safety and security of our guests and team members is always our number one priority,” she said.

“Although we have concerns that the fire retardant cladding used may not adhere to recognised government guidance on compliance with the building regulations for use in high rise buildings.

“An independent fire expert has assured us that these hotels are safe and that they are entirely satisfied that there are robust fire safety measures and evacuation procedures in place to protect our guests and team members.”

Premier Inn operates some 750 hotels with 65,000 rooms in total.

It also has hotels in Ireland, Germany and the UAE.

The hotel group is famously advertised by actor Lenny Henry.