Bournemouth, Political | Posted on August 28th, 2025 | return to news

Tensions rise as rival protests held outside Bournemouth hotel

Pro-immigration and anti-migrant protests were organised outside the Britannia Hotel on Meyrick Road on Friday 22 August.

Last week, protests against the use of hotels to house migrants and asylum seekers (as well as counter protests organised by activist groups such as Stand Up to Racism) took place across the country. One such protest took place on Meyrick Road in Bournemouth on Friday 22 August, where two opposing groups of protestors gathered outside a hotel.

Hotels in Bournemouth have been used to house asylum seekers since 2014, but opposition to their use has swelled in recent months, leading to last week’s demonstrations.

The protests in Bournemouth were focused on the Britannia Hotel, which is reported to be one of three migrant hotels in Bournemouth. While the hotel does have gates across the entrance, Dorset View was unable to verify whether or not the Britannia is being used to house asylum seekers, nor how many are in Bournemouth, as neither BCP Council nor the Home Office would confirm it.

The Home Office did share figures showing that there are 2,132 asylum seekers being house in hotels across the South West region as of 30 June 2025.

During Friday’s protests, which started at 5.30pm, the two groups were initially similar sized, but soon the anti-immigration group swelled in number.

Both groups waved flags including the Union Jack and St George’s Cross, held up signs, played loud music and shouted chants.

Dorset View counted 11 police on the scene keeping the protestors separate.

While the street felt tense, Dorset View witnessed no violence or unrest while reporting on the scene.

One person demonstrating against the use of migrant hotels was 76-year-old Sheila Booth. Holding up a flag and wearing a bright pink blouse, she revealed that this was the first time she had ever attended a protest. She said: “This country, with Starmer at the helm, is heading very quickly towards bankruptcy. It’s costing an absolute fortune to put these supposed asylum seekers into hotels.

“We don’t know who they are, or where they’ve come from. Whether they’re part of organised criminal gangs or murders or rapists or whatever, we don’t know.

“I should be at home now with my feet up, but I’m here because I feel so strongly about it.”

Meanwhile, a counter protestor in the pro-migration group, Kevin Jackson, said: “It’s just people who want to claim asylum. They don’t want to be there [in the hotel].

“This hotel would probably have been burnt down by now if it didn’t have refugees in there. That’s what happens. There’s a few places that have burnt down around Bournemouth because they can’t make any money.”

Another anti-migrant hotel protestor was Richard Wakelin, a self-described punk. He said: “The French should never have let them leave their shores.

“In times of war, we’ve stood hard to protect our democracy. For those people over there [the counter protestors] to call us fascist is bloody offensive.

“The extreme left haven’t got a clue. All they do is argue.

“This country is multicultural, it’s a mix of so many different cultures, it’s what makes it such a good country. I’m pro-immigration, but I will not support nonsense.

“I do hope that every one of these immigrants gets something where they feel safe and comfortable, but they could have had that while in other European countries before they got here.”

More photos on the Dorset View Facebook page.