The local government is taking legal action against a renowned hotel after a tragic incident led to a woman’s death when a wardrobe fell and fatally injured her.
Chloe Haynes, aged 21, passed away after being trapped beneath a large wardrobe at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. She had visited the city for a night out on September 10, 2022, when the unfortunate event occurred.
A friend discovered Chloe and immediately called for help. Two nearby guests responded quickly, attempting to remove the wardrobe from her, but sadly, their efforts were in vain.
Initially, Merseyside Police launched an investigation, detaining three individuals—two men aged 26 and 46 who had helped, and the friend—on suspicion of murder. They were later released without any charges as the incident was deemed accidental.
Despite the police findings, Liverpool City Council’s Environmental Health department conducted its own inquiry. This investigation has led to plans for prosecuting two Britannia Hotels companies over alleged violations of health and safety regulations.
Following the conclusion of that investigation, the council is set to prosecute two Britannia Hotels companies over alleged health and safety breaches.
Proceedings are understood to be starting on May 7 at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
The Adelphi, situated on Ranelagh Street in the city centre, featured in an eight-episode BBC documentary called ‘Hotel’ in 1997 following its day-to-day running.
Chloe Haynes, 21, was found dead under a heavy wooden wardrobe at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool on September 10, 2022
Liverpool City Council are now launching a prosecution against the hotel (pictured) over alleged health and safety offences
Ms Haynes’ mother, Nicola Williams, said at the time of her animal-loving daughter’s death she had just been ‘coming out of her shell’.
‘She loved animals. She had a little dog called Archie she was obsessed with. There are so many photos of them together,’ she said.
‘My little nickname for her was birdy. She was so petite and little and when she ate she was like a little bird. She was quiet, she was somebody who didn’t speak unless it needed saying.
‘But in the last 12 months she was coming out of her shell. She was gaining her confidence and she had a wide circle of friends.
‘She was kind and caring and she seemed to connect with gay men and that was how she met the friend she went to Liverpool with.’
Ms Haynes – who had a twin brother and was one of five children – had travelled to Liverpool from Hafan y Mor Haven Holiday Park in north Wales, where she worked, on the night of her death.
Her mother added: ‘Chloe left Pwllheli around 7.40pm and they went to the Adelphi, there was some sort of engagement party or something.
‘By midnight, she had been drinking shots and so on and she was a bit drunk, so her friend has taken her back to the hotel to sleep it off and then he’s gone back out.
‘It seems she has got up out of the bed confused, not knowing where she is, and she’s opened the door of the wardrobe maybe thinking it is the toilet or the door to go back out of the room.
‘It was a big, old, heavy wardrobe and it’s fallen on her and crushed her windpipe.’
Ms Williams said Chloe’s friend returned to the room in the early hours of the morning and was confronted with the horrific scene.
He tried to save her life along with two other men by performing CPR, but it was too late.
Wayne Kenny, from Bootle, was one of those men. He told the Liverpool Echo a short time later that he was stunned to then be questioned by police.
He said: ‘I was thinking could I get accused for something I haven’t done, could they make a mistake? To be thinking that for 10 hours was hard work.’
Ms Haynes was described as ‘petite and beautiful’ by her mother Nicola Williams
Ms Haynes had just been coming out of her shell, her mother said, at the time of her death
Following Chloe’s death, Liverpool City Council carried out spot checks on the premises and on September 22, issued prohibition notices to Britannia Hotels regarding the safety of the wardrobes found in Chloe’s room.
The spot checks also found issues regarding the windows at the hotel. While not required by law, where window restrictors are in place to prevent falls, they must be kept in good condition.
Britannia appealed the notices regarding the safety of wardrobes and the council agreed to drop them after seeing evidence that work had been carried out to make them safe. The company dropped its appeal against the notice regarding windows and that was affirmed.
A spokesperson for Britannia Hotels said: ‘We can confirm that Liverpool City Council has initiated legal proceedings in relation to the Adelphi Hotel and we are fully cooperating with the legal process.
‘Our sympathies remain with the families and loved ones of those involved. As this matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.’
