Hotel slated after man drank himself to death

THE Manor Hotel management has been criticised after a building worker died in the bar. Peter Storkey, 29, a quantity surveyor from Bristol, died in the early hours of Sunday 19 June following a heavy after-work drinking session.

In recording a verdict of accidental death, Magistrate Russell Finch said those involved in the incident had nothing to be proud of.

'I consider it's a matter for the police that these premises would benefit from supervision and inspection for as long as they see appropriate,' he said.

'One wonders whether having an absent licensee and a manager who did not cover himself in glory is appropriate for large premises of this nature, which I gather are more of a boarding house than a hotel.'

Hotel owner Steve Durey was yesterday unavailable, but had previously refused to comment on the incident.

Mr Storkey was employed by Miller & Baird and worked on the St Sampson's Marina project. The day before his death, he finished work and went with friends to the London House and Mariners' pubs, where he drank pints of cider.

Later, he returned to the hotel, where he was staying, and continued drinking. He mixed his drinks, consuming lager, rum and coke and vodka and coke.

One witness said Mr Storkey was 'throwing them back'. He began stumbling around and was 'completely out of it'.

Mr Storkey fell down and began to vomit. Colleagues placed him on a sofa and periodically kept an eye on him. At about 2am, he was found lying on the floor and appeared to be lifeless. An ambulance was called but attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.

A post-mortem examination revealed 314mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The drink-drive limit is 80.

Consultant pathologist Catherine Chinyama said that Mr Storkey was a social but not a heavy drinker.

A police investigation and consultation with the Law Officers concluded that no one would be prosecuted as a result of the incident.

In response to the magistrate's comments, a police spokesman said that they already made hundreds of visits to all categories of licensed premises and would continue to make such inspections.

He added that the force shared the magistrate's concerns when the standards of licensed premises fell below that which could reasonably be expected.