The historic Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, which saw the death of a 21-year-old woman from a falling wardrobe and a three-year-old girl suffer head injuries from a cabinet, is an 'unsafe place', a court heard.
The Britannia Adelphi Hotel is one of the city's most famous establishments, with visitors over the years including Sir Winston Churchill and the hotel featuring in the 1997 fly-on-the-wall BBC documentary series, Hotel, narrated by Andrew Sachs.
Its owners, Britannia Hotels, appeared in court to face 20 charges of breaching health and safety regulations after the death of Chloe Haynes, 21, in September 2022.
Ms Haynes was found dead in her room after a wardrobe fell on her.
Some of the charges faced by the Hotel specifically relate to the room Ms Haynes had been staying in at the time of her death - room 510 - and a failure to take measures to prevent the wardrobe 'toppling over'.
Others, however, relate to other rooms. Liverpool Magistrates' Court heard allegations about 'unstable furniture' and windows that open too widely, allowing guests to 'climb out' of them.
Kate Blackwell, prosecuting on behalf of Liverpool City Council, told the court that the hotel was an 'unsafe place'.
She said the wardrobe that fell on and killed Chloe was left 'hanging' by the side of her neck.
Chloe Haynes, 21, was found dead under a heavy wooden wardrobe at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool on September 10, 2022
The owners of the historic hotel (pictured) face 20 charges of breaching health and safety regulations
Ms Haynes was described as 'petite and beautiful' by her mother Nicola Williams
There had also been a further incident in August last year when a three-year-old girl suffered head injuries after a corner cabinet fell on her, the court heard.
Keith Morton KC, representing Britannia Hotels, told the court they would be not be indicating any plea at this stage.
Ms Haynes had travelled to Liverpool from Hafan y Mor Haven Holiday Park in Pwllheli, North Wales, where she worked, for a night out and was sharing a room at the city centre hotel with a colleague who discovered her body and raised the alarm.
Her mother Nicola Williams, from Wrexham, told the Liverpool Echo that Chloe had attended an engagement party and got a 'bit drunk' and had gone back to the hotel to sleep it off.
She said: 'It seems she has got up out of the bed confused, not knowing where she is, and 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.'
She described her daughter as 'petite and beautiful', saying her nickname was 'Birdy' because she was like a little bird.
Three men, who came to Ms Hayne's aid, were initially arrested on suspicion of murder before being released without charge.
The Britannia Adelphi Hotel is one of Liverpool's most famous establishments, with visitors over the years including Sir Winston Churchill and Roy Rogers and his racehorse Trigger
The tragedy prompted an investigation by the Council's environmental health department.
District Judge Paul Healey sent the case to be tried at Liverpool Crown Court with an initial hearing set for June 4.
The first Adelphi Hotel on the present site was opened in 1826 by owner James Radley.
Since then it has grown in popularity, becoming the most popular hotel in Liverpool and gaining fame throughout Britain and Europe.
Its rooms have had many famous occupants over the years, including Roy Rogers and his winning racehorse 'Trigger', said to have made a grand entrance on the mezzanine floor to the main lounge.