WEDDINGS OFF
Couples cancelled by email as hotel prepares to take in asylum seekers
COUPLES’ wedding plans are in disarray as a Stoke-on-trent hotel prepares to take in asylum seekers.
Brides and grooms-to-be say they were notified via email yesterday that their big days at the North Stafford Hotel in Stoke had been cancelled.
Meanwhile, the hotel outside Stoke Railway Station has also been taken off booking websites in preparation for the new arrivals. It is understood room reservations were suspended from November 7.
As recently as September, the hotel had been advertising Christmas party nights with food, drink and a DJ. It is not clear if staff employed at the hotel will keep their jobs.
The news comes despite a legal battle to stop the Britannia-owned hotel – one of the most historic buildings in the city – being taken over by the Home Office.
Last week, Stoke-on-trent City Council lost its High Court fight to keep asylum seekers out of the Winton Square venue. It secured an interim injunction to stop the asylum seekers moving in but calls for a further injunction fell on deaf ears.
It means asylum seekers are expected take up all 88 rooms within days, although a date has not been confirmed.
One woman, who was due to get married at the hotel, told The Sentinel: “The North Stafford Hotel isn’t operating as a hotel anymore. Myself and lots of others have had our weddings cancelled and we found out via email.”
The Government is paying out £5 million a day to house migrants in hotels. Home Secretary Suella Braverman is also facing mounting pressure over her position after the latest row erupted over small boats crossing the English Channel.
Last week, the city council said it was ‘obviously disappointed’ by the High Court defeat.
A spokesman said: “The city has a long tradition of supporting asylum seekers, having been an asylum dispersal area over three decades.
“While we review our legal position in the light of the judgement, the reality is that we have already been working with a number of other public services for the last 10 days, carrying out contingency planning prior to the court hearing. This work will now continue at pace to ensure that people who may arrive in the city are supported in the right way.”
The hotel and Britannia have been contacted for comment.