Jason Lee Pryer proposed to his partner Melanie but just ten minutes later the hotel was evacuated on Saturday.

The couple, both aged 21, had just minutes to enjoy their special moment which turned into a nightmare as they ran for their lives.

Jason described the terrifying moment they escaped from the second floor as smoke filled the 200-year-old building.

Jason Lee Pryer, right, and fiancee Melanie Nunne (Image: Supplied)

All of the couple’s belongings including sentimental love letters were left in the room and are likely to be destroyed.

Jason told The Argus: “My partner was blindfolded as she came into the room. I opened the door, I could smell smoke but didn’t process that it was actually in the hotel.

“I thought someone had burned toast, or there was a bonfire somewhere or barbecue on the beach.

“I proposed to her at about 5.15pm, she said yes, I could still smell the smoke but didn’t think anything of it.

Jason and Melanie celebrated their romantic moment minutes before the fire alarm went off (Image: Supplied)

“We had about five minutes to acknowledge and enjoy the time that we had. Then there was a fire alarm, we all started rushing out at the fire exit. I was the last one in the room.

“We came outside the side door and a massive plank of wood came flying out of a window and landed next to me.

"My partner pulled me away, we went across the road. Everyone was standing outside, my partner was balling her eyes out."

Jason said all their belongings are likely to have been lost in the blaze and the ordeal has left him and partner Melanie Nunne upset.

They were in room 224 of the hotel, facing the Old Steine.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were first called out at 5.24pm on Saturday to reports of smoke.

The fire ripped through the west section of the Royal Albion building (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus)

The fire grew and as day slipped into night, the flames spread across the building as strong winds fanned the fire.

Smoke covered large parts of Brighton and residents were forced to close all their windows as far as Hanover.

By Sunday, the full of extent of the damage could be seen in the light of day.

The hotel was gutted by the blaze and the roof caved in.

Yesterday, firefighters damped down hotspots and demolition crews arrived at the scene ready to knock down the facade to make the hotel safe following the catastrophic fire.

For Jason and Melanie, what was supposed to be a special moment turned into a nightmare.

The devastating fire could be seen from miles away (Image: Andy Gardner)

Jason added: “We didn’t even get to enjoy the proposal. As soon as I stood up and she said yes, we had a hug, she went to get changed. That was it, the fire alarm went straight off at around 5.30pm.

“It was really scary, everyone was rushing out. No one knew what was going on. All you could smell in the building was smoke.

“The fire alarms didn’t go off very quickly, smelling the smoke before shows to me that the fire had already started. When we were outside, the room on fire was completely alight.

“We have lost everything that we had in there, all of my love letters, phones, money and belongings.

“We haven’t been able to enjoy the moment. We both keep crying, it hurts that we didn’t get to enjoy something that was supposed to be so special. The whole day I wanted it to be perfect for her.”