Harrogate's Majestic Hotel reopens after fire

Nigel Butterfield, 41, died in the blaze on the upper floors of the landmark building.

As the hotel officially opened today, chief executive, Charles Prew of Barcelo Hotels UK, said 35 rooms had been damaged.

He said: "A lot of the dirty work has now been completed. We had to make the hotel secure where the fire was."

Mr Prew said it took two months for scaffolding to be erected and a roof built.

He added: "For the rest of the hotel it was a great opportunity to spend some money. We spent nearly a quarter of a million pounds refurbishing and repainting the lobby, lounge and dining room."

While the hotel has been closed hotel staff were re-deployed elsewhere in the company, or took up temporary positions at other hotels in Harrogate. The Majestic will be fully reopened by next April.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. Police said in May that seat of the blaze was in Mr Butterfield's room.