Firefighters and Police remain at the scene of a major blaze at the former Esplanade Hotel in Sandown, with investigations ongoing to establish just what happened.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire at around 03:30 on Sunday morning after smoke was seen rising from the derelict seafront building, which famously once hosted Jimi Hendrix.
Crews from across the Isle of Wight, supported by mainland firefighters, were mobilised to tackle the blaze, which quickly took hold of the former hotel.
Although the fire has now been extinguished, firefighters and Police remain at the scene as work continues to establish the cause of the incident.
Initial investigations are underway, with the area being treated as a potential crime scene.
Cordons remain in place around the building, with High Street closed around its junction with Albert Road. Esplanade has reopened to pedestrians, although restrictions remain immediately outside the hotel.
The former Esplanade Hotel has been the scene of several fires in recent years, including incidents in July 2020 and September 2025.
The latest blaze also comes amid a wider pattern of fires at derelict hotels across Sandown, with the former Ocean, Parkbury and Cygnet hotels all suffering significant fires in recent years.
Further updates on the incident are expected in the coming days.
