Hotel no longer housing asylum seekers - Home Office

A hotel that was the focus of frequent protests is no longer being used to house asylum seekers, the Home Office confirmed.

The Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, Norwich, had been housing asylum seekers since 2022, but the Home Office said the facility is currently not being used as part of the government's ambition to end the use of hotels.

It follows frequent demonstrations at the site last year, some of which were attended by hundreds of people and resulted in a number of arrests.

The decision means currently there is no hotel in Norfolk being used to house asylum seekers, according to Home Office data.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The government is removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain.

"The population in asylum hotels has fallen by nearly 20% in the last year and by 45% since the peak under the previous government – helping reduce asylum support costs by nearly £1bn."

The Home Office added that it is moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation across the country, including ex-military sites, and it aimed to "close every asylum hotel".

In September of last year, there were 207 asylum seekers in hotel rooms at the Bowthorpe hotel.

By the end of December, that was down 45 to 162, according to the latest figures available.

The cost of housing asylum seekers in UK hotels became a highly contentious issue, costing £8.3m per day in the 2023–2024 financial year.

It led to tense protests last summer, with demonstrations held outside the Brook Hotel and the Park Hotel in Diss.

The Park Hotel closed last year.

Groups of people also began visiting the Brook Hotel regularly in the evenings when planned protests were not taking place.

Norfolk Police started using powers to curb these gatherings towards the end of last year due to complaints that occupants inside were being harassed.

The Home Office said it is identifying suitable sites to house asylum seekers, with the safety and security of residents, staff and the neighbouring community being central to any decision.

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