A small cooking fire forced the evacuation of patrons and guests from the Marquis of Normanby Hotel (pictured) in Carterton on Tuesday night.
Carterton fire chief Wayne Robinson said the fire broke out in a small upstairs kitchen at the hotel about 9.45pm after a frying pan was left unattended.
He said patrons and guests were evacuated from the building as smoke billowed throughout the premises and four firefighters wearing breathing gear found and extinguished the small blaze.
Mr Robinson said windows were thrown open and a fan was used to help ventilate the building before patrons and guests were permitted to return.
