A once thriving Hilton hotel boasting ‘excellent facilities’ in west London has been transformed into a home for asylum seekers, the Metro can reveal.
The Hampton by Hilton hotel in west London now houses dozens of asylum seekers, having previously been a favourite of tourists made popular by transport links into central London and its convenience for getting to and from Heathrow.
It had scored 3.7 out of 5 in reviews, with one guest writing that the hotel had ‘excellent rooms, fab staff and superior facilities’. The hotel’s publicity material also described its ‘top-notch state-of-the-art fitness centre’ open around the clock and wi-fi in all the rooms.
The Government has been criticised for ‘putting the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people’ after it won a court challenge which means asylum seekers can continue to be housed at an Essex hotel.
Hilton said on its website: ‘The hotel is centrally located in west London near the airport, business district, parks and major attractions’.
It adds: ‘With its fantastic entertainment facilities, the hotel ensures guests have an enjoyable stay. With cosy seating and modern amenities, it’s the perfect place to relax and socialise.’
But now the hotel is occupied by migrants who are awaiting decisions by the government on their applications to remain in the UK, rather than tourists looking for a base to explore London.
The hotel, which formerly charged up to around £200 for a double room, is being run by hospitality company SD Commercial, with staff at the front door explaining to anyone trying to enter the hotel to book a room that it is now ‘private’ and not open to the public.
Local businesses are concerned that the hotel’s transformation is out of keeping with a zone which had been regenerated with leisure, retail and home developments costing hundreds of millions of pounds.
Ajmeet Singh, who owns a convenience store nearby, says a migrant hotel near his shop on Ealing Broadway is ‘bad for business’.
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He told Metro: ‘The hotel is not good for business. If there were tourists in the hotel, they would spend money in my shop. They would pop on for snacks, alcohol or whatever.
‘I don’t have any problem with the migrants in there. They occasionally come in and buy a drink or something, but they spend little. They are quiet and respectful, but to be honest, I don’t think having them in that hotel is right.
‘It’s the wrong location. A lot of money has been spent on development in this area, and surely a tourist hotel would be successful.
‘I just don’t understand why they have made a popular hotel in a prime London location into a migrant hotel. It doesn’t add up.’
A manager at a nearby restaurant told Metro: ‘It’s not ideal having big groups of men hanging outside the hotel smoking. Before we used to get a lot of customers from the hotel when tourists were there. It’s also looking a bit shabby now.
‘When it was new, it was like a landmark and added to the business community, but that’s all gone. We pay high business rates, and what the neighbouring businesses add to the vibe of the area.’
SD Commercial, the Home Office and Hilton hotels have been contacted for comment.
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