Fire to Droitwich's Raven Hotel was 'horrendous' says Wychavon council leader, a year since it happened
The historic building, which is Grade II listed, was severely damaged by a fire which took place on the 10 August 2025
Wychavon District Council's leader has said it would mean a lot if historic parts of Droitwich's historic Raven Hotel were saved, twelve months on from its fire.
The building, which dates back centuries, suffered extensive damage when a blaze tore through it on the 10 August 2025.
It had been awarded Grade II listed status in 1951 by Historic England and shut as a hotel in 2010.
Councillor Richard Morris, who leads Wychavon District Council, said he can still remember the fire and what happened vividly.
"It was horrendous, I remember standing and watching the fire move from the back to the front and it going up in flames," he said.
"For anybody that knows Droitwich or has lived or worked or cares about it, the building itself has been at the heart of the town, I call it the postcard view, if you walk through Victoria Square, the Raven's been ever present.
"It's kind of defined the character and the look of the town, with the sad state it's in now, it's horrible, and we need to try and get something back."
Inspections by Historic England in the initial aftermath suggested historic parts of the building could be saved, but this can only be confirmed once the site can be fully accessed.
Recent footage captured by drones has been released by the district council and highlights the current state of the building and how the fire has left it.
The authority also recently confirmed it had secured a court order, which requires the building's owner Live Urban Two to follow a legally binding timetable to make the building safe and prevent further deterioration.
It said it gives them the power to step in if the timetable is not met, carry out the work itself, and recover costs from the owner.
They confirmed the first stage of the owner seeking pre-application advice about the demolition work by the 10 July had been meet, and the owner has appointed a project manager who is working "positively and closely" with Wychavon’s conservation and heritage team.
An application for listed building consent is now expected later this year, which, if granted, would see demolition work start shortly after.
Once complete, with the remains of the building secured, the authority said the road could then be reopened.
"The historical part is just the manor house, which is a small part that you look at from Victoria Square," councillor Morris said.
"The rest has been added on over time, and that's why we need to look at demolition in order to secure the building itself, secure the historical part, and try and protect what is left of the historical part."