Liverpool City Council is “very close” to deciding whether to prosecute the owners of the Britannia Adelphi Hotel following the tragic death of 21-year-old Chloe Haynes, who was crushed by a falling wardrobe in September 2022.
The council’s Environmental Health department has been investigating the incident for nearly three years, with a spokesperson confirming: “Liverpool City Council’s Environmental Health department is very close to concluding an assessment on whether to prosecute the hotel’s owners regarding the death of Chloe Haynes.”
Ms Haynes, from Wrexham, died in the early hours of 10 September 2022 after a wardrobe in her room at the historic Liverpool hotel fell on her, crushing her windpipe. The young woman had travelled from Hafan y Mor Haven Holiday Park in Pwllheli, North Wales, where she worked as a waitress, to attend an engagement party in the city.
Tragic Circumstances Unfold
According to her mother, Nicola Williams, 49, Chloe had returned to her hotel room after midnight, having consumed alcohol during the evening. Her colleague, who was sharing the room, had taken her back to sleep off the effects before returning to the celebration.
“It seems she has got up out of the bed confused, not knowing where she is,” Ms Williams told reporters. “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.”
The colleague discovered the horrific scene upon returning to the room and immediately raised the alarm. Three men from nearby rooms rushed to help lift the wardrobe, but tragically, it was too late to save Chloe’s life.
Initial Murder Investigation Cleared
Merseyside Police initially arrested the three men, aged 26, 46, and 49, on suspicion of murder. However, they were subsequently released without charge after officers determined the death was accidental. The men had been guests at the hotel who responded to calls for help.
“It did sting when we read they had been arrested, they had tried to help her,” Ms Williams later acknowledged, expressing gratitude for their attempts to save her daughter.
Safety Concerns Lead to Prohibition Notices
Following the tragedy, Liverpool Council conducted spot checks at the Ranelagh Street hotel and issued prohibition notices to Britannia Hotels on 22 September 2022. The notices specifically addressed safety concerns regarding wardrobes of the type found in Chloe’s room.
Additional issues were identified concerning the condition of windows throughout the hotel. While window restrictors are not legally required, where they are installed to prevent falls, they must be maintained in good condition, which inspectors found was not the case at the Adelphi.
Britannia Hotels challenged the prohibition notices, taking the matter to Manchester Employment Tribunal in June 2023. The tribunal cancelled the notice regarding wardrobes after evidence showed compliance within the specified timeframe, but upheld the window safety notice as required work was not completed on time.
Further Incidents Raise Concerns
The investigation into Chloe’s death is not the only probe currently facing the hotel. In August 2025, three-year-old Valencia Verdin was injured when a cabinet allegedly fell on her, causing glass to smash on her head. Her mother, Danielle Kenny from Widnes, reported the incident to Liverpool Council, prompting another Environmental Health investigation.
The council has since seized the cabinet and instructed the hotel to check all rooms for similar furniture safety issues, which has reportedly been completed.
Mother Seeks Answers
Ms Williams, who affectionately called her daughter “Birdy” due to her petite stature, remains determined to understand every detail of how the tragedy occurred. “I need to know, as a mum I need to know every detail,” she said. “I don’t know how long she was under there before she died, and we have been told somebody heard a noise from the room around 3am but didn’t report it.”
She described Chloe as “kind and caring” and noted that in the months before her death, her daughter had been “coming out of her shell” and “gaining her confidence.”
“She was quiet, she was somebody who didn’t speak unless it needed saying,” Ms Williams reflected. “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.”
Ongoing Investigation
The council’s investigation has continued for nearly three years, with sources previously indicating that criminal prosecution remained an option. When asked for updates on the investigation timeline, the council stated there is no set timeframe for when the investigation may be concluded.
A pre-inquest review into Chloe’s death has faced multiple postponements, with the coroner’s proceedings awaiting the outcome of the council’s investigation.
Industry sources familiar with health and safety regulations suggest that prosecutions under such circumstances typically consider whether reasonable precautions were in place to prevent foreseeable accidents. The Health and Safety Executive guidelines require furniture that could pose a tipping hazard to be properly secured, particularly in commercial accommodation settings.
Britannia Hotels, which operates the Adelphi and has been ranked as the UK’s worst hotel chain for ten consecutive years by consumer group Which?, has not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding either incident.
The Adelphi Hotel, a Liverpool landmark since 1914, has housed numerous famous guests throughout its history but has faced criticism in recent years for declining standards under Britannia’s ownership since the 1990s.
As the council nears its decision on prosecution, the case highlights ongoing concerns about safety standards in budget accommodation and the devastating consequences when basic precautions are not implemented.
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