The Royal Albion Hotel will reopen at the end of August following a £7 million refurbishment.

The Brighton landmark was ravaged by a severe fire two years ago, but could be almost fully operational for the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Bookings are being taken for September and around 100 staff are being recruited for the new-look hotel.

Senior political figures will be staying at the seafront hotel in Brighton during the Labour Party Conference from September 24-28.

They will be some of the first guests since the spectacular fire in November 1998 when guests were forced to flee the blazing hotel.

The fire was one of the biggest in Brighton since the War and thousands of people lined the seafront as flames leaped into the sky.

A total of 160 firefighters across Sussex tackled the blaze and were able to save vital sections of the early 19th Century building.

The senior management team is already in place and busy interviewing recruits.

General manager Peter Milne said: "It looks as if the hotel will open towards the end of August, although we have not got an official opening date.

"We are recruiting 100 staff and have been impressed with the quality of applicants so far.

"There has been a good response to our advertisement and we shall continue to advertise for staff in all areas. We are being able to pick and choose the best applicants."

Owners of the Britannia Hotels group, which bought the Royal Albion for £4 million in 1987, are determined to make the new Albion Hotel one of the best in town.

Many of the original features of the building built in 1826 have been kept and all 186 rooms have been refurbished.

Brighton and Hove Council allowed the owners to fast track some of the planning regulations so the hotel could be refurbished as quickly as possible.

Former leader of the council Lord Bassam was anxious the hotel should be restored as quickly as possible because it was in such a prominent position.

For over a year the building was surrounded by hoardings while a giant crane towered above.

The new roof was completed at the end of last year and the majority of the major building work was completed in the spring.

Since then, decorators, electricians and carpenters have been hard at work putting the finishing touches to the building, ready for opening day.