Birmingham hotel featured in Crossroads TV soap drama houses asylum seekers

The UK has a long-standing tradition of providing refuge to individuals fleeing persecution. 

Lately the country has seen record numbers making the journey for a new life in the UK, and the recent surge in asylum seekers has led to many being housed in the region’s hotels - earning them considerable income.

The Ramada hotel in Sutton Coldfield, which was previously known as Penns Hall and is famous for being the setting of the iconic TV show Crossroads, is among the hotels that have been repurposed to house asylum seekers.

Many other hotels in the area are also being used for this purpose. According to reports, the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK has reached unprecedented levels, with over 90,000 people applying for asylum in 2022.

The situation has put significant pressure on the government to address the issue, and many are calling for a comprehensive solution to be found.

In the meantime, hotels across the West Midlands are likely to remain closed to paying customers as they continue to provide temporary accommodation to those in need. Here’s what local people think about the situation.

Peter says: “There shouldn’t be large numbers of people waiting for outcomes of asylum cases. I think the fundamental problem is that the system isn’t working fast enough. There can’t be enough resources in the system to quickly process claims.”

Lizzie says: “In terms of the hotels, I understand it’s expensive. I understand where the government is coming from. I think it’s something people need to get round the table and discuss before imposing anything on anybody”.

John says: “I think, probably, people are doing their best to manage it. But potentially there could be a bit more done, and maybe some lessons learned from the process.”

As the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK continues to rise and with no definitive resolution in sight from the government, it may be several years before hotels in the West Midlands can resume normal commercial operations.