Wolverhampton hotel reopening next week after five years housing asylum seekers
The Britannia Hotel will reopen in a matter of days
A reopening date has been confirmed for a prominent hotel in Wolverhampton city centre which is due to reopen to the public, after five years of providing accommodation for asylum seekers.
The Britannia Hotel on the corner of Lichfield Street has been empty since April, when the Express & Star exclusively revealed it was no longer being used to house asylum seekers.
Prakash Sivarajan, director of Britannia Hotels Group, said all 118 bedrooms and bathrooms were being refurbished, with new decor, fixtures and furniture.
The hotel’s reception area and corridors had also been stripped and renovated.
And now a reopening date has been set.
The hotel will reopen its doors once again on Monday, November 9.
A recent post by Britannia Hotels on Facebook said: “We're delighted to be reopening on 9th November and look forward to welcoming you through our doors!”
New pictures were shared on social media by Britannia Hotel Wolverhampton last month to give people a “glimpse of what’s to come”.
Sharing the pictures, a post said: “A little glimpse of what’s to come…
“We’re getting ready to open our doors this November, and we’re excited to share a first look at Britannia Hotel Wolverhampton!
“We can’t wait to welcome you. Keep an eye on our page for more updates coming soon!”
Mr Sivarajan said last month: “We’re pleased to be bringing the Britannia Hotel Wolverhampton back into use following a significant refurbishment of the property.
“We’ve invested across the hotel, from the bedrooms and bathrooms through to reception and communal areas, to create a modern, comfortable and convenient base for visitors to the city.
“Wolverhampton is an important location for Britannia Hotels and we look forward to welcoming guests back to the hotel when it reopens in November.”
Mr Sivarajan said the hotel would aim to provide simple and convenient accommodation in the heart of the city, with free wireless internet access and vending machines available during the day.
The 135-year-old hotel, which once hosted Winston Churchill, closed to the public in 2021 when it was booked to provide emergency accommodation to asylum seekers.
Over the past year it became a regular target for anti-immigration protests.
With the Government ending the policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels, the Britannia is returning to general use.
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