Workers haul beds into posh 4-star London hotel set to house hundreds of asylum seekers – as protesters gather outside

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WORKERS have been spotted hauling beds into a posh London hotel that is set to house hundreds of asylum seekers.

Labourers wheeled in the new furniture at the four-star Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf this morning, following an anti-migrant protest outside the property last night.

SelwynPicsWorkers could be seen carrying mattresses into the Britannia International Hotel this morning[/caption]

SelwynPicsNew beds were also spotted being taken into the hotel[/caption]

George Cracknell WrightAnti-migrant protesters outside the building yesterday[/caption]

SelwynPicsFood and supplies arrive at the Britannia Hotel in London[/caption]

Around 150 activists had surrounded the hotel – in London‘s eastern financial centre – last night after false reports claimed asylum seekers were being transferred there from another migrant hotel in Epping.

The rumours, circulated on X by far-right figure Tommy Robinson, claimed migrants would be moved from The Bell Hotel in Epping to the Canary Wharf building.

While the Home Office later debunked these claims, it has been revealed that the hotel – where rooms cost up to £460 a night – will be repurposed as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

A spokesman for the Tower Hamlets Council said: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

“It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel.

“We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”

This morning, workers were seen wheeling beds and mattresses into the hotel – which has close to 500 rooms.

The Home Office has reserved more than 400 of the beds at the hotel, agreeing a deal for £81 per night for each migrant who stays there.

It has been confirmed that no asylum seekers are currently living there – the Home Office reserves beds in empty hotel rooms in case of a surge in crossings over the summer period.

Home Office sources revealed to The Sun that the average cost per night for a hotel room for a migrant is now £118.87, down from £162.16 in March 2023.

Housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the taxpayer £5.77million a day.

On Tuesday, some 50 police officers were drafted in to supervise the march, which at times descended into shouting matches with a small counter-protest of five people.

One held a sign reading: “Safe and legal routes now”.

The small counter-march was eventually escorted away by cops.

Several passing motorists honked their horns in support, though some shouted “Free Palestine” out their windows.

Among those at the protest yesterday was Reform’s chief whip Lee Anderson MP, who said in an online video: “Absolutely furious. This hotel here… it must cost a couple of hundred quid a night to stay there.

“Most normal people in this country would not be able to afford to come and stay here for a weekend, but we have illegals coming here.”

Stopped by reporters, Mr Anderson insisted he was only passing through the area by chance.

The protest had been sparked by social media rumours that asylum seekers had been moved into the four-star hotel.

GettyBunting bearing the English flag was seen outside the hotel today[/caption]

GettyAround 50 police officers were drafted in on Tuesday to supervise the march[/caption]

GettyThe four-star hotel is located in London’s eastern financial district[/caption]

SelwynPicsIt has been confirmed that no asylum seekers are currently living there[/caption]

It has also been claimed that some tourists had their bookings at the hotel cancelled with little notice.

Rooms at the hotel, the Britannia brand’s biggest and flagship residence which opened in 1992, were last night unavailable to book online.

A police presence remained outside the hotel on Wednesday morning with fencing placed in front of the doors.

The Home Office said migrants had not been moved from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which was at the centre of clashes between yobs and cops last week.

Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper branded yobs, who left eight officers injured during the clashes, as selfish, mindless thugs.

Police vehicles were smashed by yobs who climbed on them and there was damage to the building.

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