Luxury hotel forced to shut after chemical leak causes huge plumes of smoke
A luxury hotel and country club has been forced to shut after after a chemical leak caused large plumes of fumes to pour out of the building.
Firefighters were called to £695-a-night Estelle Manor in Eynsham, Oxfordshire yesterday morning and residents in the area told to shut their windows and doors until the fumes had cleared
Thames Valley Police, who also attended along with the ambulance service, said a substance used for cleaning the hotel’s swimming pools had leaked and caused a chemical reaction.
Guests staying at the exclusive hotel, which has its own Roman-inspired spa, were evacuated from the buildings, while others were ‘turned away’.
A small number of guests and staff were checked over by medics as a precaution, but there were no injuries, said the hotel.
The manor is owned by Mayfair’s private members club Maison Estelle and is popular with celebrities.
Amanda Holden and Alan Carr saw in 2024 there, along with Amanda’s daughters Lexi, 17 and Hollie, 11. Photos show the group celebrating New Year’s Eve at the venue.
Also fans of the manor are footballer Peter Crouch and his model wife Abbey Clancy, who have spoken about the hotel on their podcast – Therapy Crouch.
The hotel confirmed the chemical incident had happened in the South Terrace swimming pool pump room – away from the spa area.
The room was still being ventilated yesterday evening but a spokesperson for the hotel said it would be fully ventilated ‘shortly’.
One guest, who was supposed to stay at the hotel from Sunday wrote on social media: ‘Was turned away at the gate and saw the fire brigade arrive.’
The manor is expected to open as normal tomorrow.
A Estelle Manor spokesperson said today: ‘We want to apologise to our guests, members and neighbours for the disruption caused by yesterday’s incident.
‘The Fire Service has been working hard to safely ventilate the South Terrace swimming pool pump room and we expect this process to be completed shortly.
‘We will be in touch with guests to compensate them for the inconvenience and look forward to opening as normal tomorrow.’
Thames Valley Police said yesterday: ‘Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service alongside Thames Valley Police have attended an incident this morning in North Leigh.
‘Sodium Chloride, a chemical used for cleaning swimming pools has leaked and caused a reaction.
‘Fire & Rescue are ventilating the building and residents between Eynsham Hall and the A40 should shut windows and doors until the plume has dissipated, which may take several hours.’
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