BBC News
·Aug 2026
Three North West asylum seeker hotels closed down, government says
Three asylum seeker hotels in North West England—the Metropole Hotel in Blackpool, the Britannia Ashley Hotel in Hale, and Chimney House in Sandbach—have been returned to their owners after residents were moved to alternative accommodation. Immigration minister Anna Turley said the closures would save money and support the government's goal of ending hotel use for asylum accommodation by 2029. The latest 13 closures are expected to save about £51 million, with fewer than 160 asylum hotels now operating nationwide, compared with 400 at the 2023 peak. Blackpool MP Chris Webb welcomed the Metropole's closure, citing local safety concerns, pressure on services and the need for other areas to share responsibility. Britannia Hotels Group said it was reviewing future plans for the Blackpool and Hale properties, including their possible restoration as community assets.