A four-star hotel in west London has obscured its Hilton branding after protests targeted similar migrant accommodation. The DoubleTree by Hilton in Cranford, which stopped accepting tourists and business travellers in November, now houses all-male asylum seekers.
Grey boards cover signs that once advertised the hotel, and a tarpaulin hides the logo atop the building. The Home Office leases the hotel through Clearsprings Ready Homes, run by Graham King, known as the 'Asylum King' with a net worth of £750 million.
Local residents have criticised the lack of warning about the change. The hotel's online booking system shows it is unavailable for any dates. It remains unclear whether migrants have access to the hotel's gym and restaurant.
Similar scenes have occurred at the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, where asylum seekers arrived under cover of darkness. Protests there led to metal fencing and police presence, with eggs thrown at the hotel.
