‘I felt like a prisoner’ says traveller after 10 days confined to quarantine hotel

TRAVELLERS released from 10 days in a quarantine hotel after arriving in the UK from a country on the UK Government’s “red list” said they were treated like “animals” and “prisoners” during their stay.

Many of the guests who stayed at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel near Heathrow Airport complained about the conditions, the costs, and being kept away from family members, as they left yesterday.

They had been at the hotel since February 15, the first day the Government’s new quarantine rules came into force, and had to pay £1,750 for a “package” including transport from the airport, two Covid-19 tests, security and food.

Father-of-three Theo Paulse, 39, from Torquay, Devon, had to quarantine after arriving from

South Africa after a family visit.

He said: “For the amount of money they charge, I felt more like a prisoner than actually a guest. I had loads of altercations in the end with staff just not knowing how to treat people because the power went to their head.

“They didn’t realise they were dealing with guests, they just kind of felt like they’ve got to treat you like some kind of animal and keep you in these rooms. It was disheartening and my kids weren’t happy when they were told dad’s not bringing their Christmas presents from their grandmother.”

Mr Paulse said he had ordered KFC at around 11pm on the first night because the food at the hotel was “expensive”.

He added: “It wasn’t a nice experience but what I can say is, all the people that were in here – thankyou very much for a nice time. We kept each other entertained and made it nice for ourselves and there was people looking out for each other.

“I’m going to miss the guys in [there], but I wouldn’t want to do the experience ever again.”

Others praised the hotel staff, but said they were looking forward to walking around without being “escorted everywhere”.

Ruth Conway, 84, and her husband Norman, 72, from Keynsham near Bristol, had to quarantine after returning from Portugal.

“It would have been nice to walk around a garden or something. That’s what I can’t wait for, to walk around my garden at home and to be able to get out of one room without having to be escorted everywhere.”

A Radisson Blu Edwardian spokesman said: “We take our role in assisting the UK Government with its hotel quarantine programme very seriously – to help provide a safe and comfortable experience for travellers.

“We work with the Department for Health and Social Care to provide this service based on the costs set by the Government. This fee includes providing three meals per day.

“Our team is working in partnership with the UK Government-contracted security staff at the property to help keep guests safe and secure.”

The spokesman added the hotel has taken any feedback “on board”.