A long-awaited report into a devastating fire that tore through a popular wedding venue is expected in the coming days.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed to the ECHO that the "complex" report into the wedding fire at Thornton Manor will be published imminently. A huge fire ripped through the manor house in Thornton Hough, Wirral, at around 9pm on February 5 last year.
A guest at the wedding on the night of the fire previously told the ECHO the flames were 10 feet high above the roof and "had taken over the whole house". Staff and guests were evacuated safely from the wedding ceremony and no injuries were reported.
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A spokesperson for the fire service described the fire in the following days as a "challenging incident" that required the prolonged efforts of emergency services. A full investigation into the fire was launched in the following days. And the ECHO understands the report is now nearing completion.
The wedding venue, operated by Thornton Holdings Ltd, made further headlines when it said it could not afford to refund people after the fire. The ECHO heard from several couples who had booked the grand manor house for prices up to around £11,000.
Out of pocket couples said the business had offered to move future weddings from the fire-damaged house to the onsite marquees. But Thornton Manor had been ordered by Wirral Council's Planning Inspectorate to remove all marquees by the end of July following a 10-year dispute.
An ECHO investigation in June 2022 found Thornton Manor had continued to book weddings in the marquees past the ordered date for their removal. Customers were left without an option for their big day following the marquees removal. Thornton Manor told customers to contact their insurance as a means of receiving their lost money.
The ECHO revealed last month that a number of out-of-pocket couples had since taken Thornton Holdings Ltd to small claims court. Thornton Manor did not respond to ECHO approaches for comment regarding the court cases.
The manor house is currently undergoing a refurbishment following the fire.
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