UPDATED: Police are in attendance at the Royal York Hotel in Ryde tonight (Thursday), where a group of ‘urban explorers’ have been caught gaining entry to the empty building.
5 Police vehicles – including a local dog unit – have been parked up on George Street for the best part of of an hour as officers search the disused hotel.
A group of men and women have now been located and moved on by officers with no arrests made.
It is said that the group were at the property tonight not for criminal means but to explore it, potentially with the view to uploading footage to the internet.
The Royal York has sat empty for a number of years but in recent months has received a partial repaint. Lights on inside the building tonight suggest that a electricity supply has now been re-connected.
UPDATE FRIDAY – Hampshire Constabulary have confirmed that 4 people were given words of advice after being found inside The Royal York last night. A 5th person was given a community resolution by way of a financial penalty as he had tampered with the Wifi in the building by switching it off.
