Royal Courts of Justice

COURT OF APPEAL CIVIL DIVISION Secretary of State for the Home Department Somani Hotels Limited v Epping Forest District Council

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Epping hotel appeal victory is seized on by the racist right

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MR JUSTICE EYRE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Between : EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL Claimant - and - SOMANI HOTELS LIMITED

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Epping asylum seekers allowed to STAY in migrant hotel as court sparks fury from local residents

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Asylum seekers can stay at Epping hotel after all, court rules

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'We feel abandoned': Furious Epping residents vow to continue protests after Home Office wins appeal against migrant hotel closure

Epping Update On Response To Incidents

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"Starmer has no intention of stopping the boats."

Starmer's "track record, Labour's track record, the Home Secretary's track record and their actions here in Britain suggest there is no desire, or plan, to actually stop the boats."

"The boats will come, and numbers are likely to continue rising."

Starmer is "on track to smash the record for small boat crossings, with numbers up 44%."

"Labour has no intention of doing this [reducing small boat crossings], and Martin Hewitt is the perfect example of their lack of action."

"It [small boat crossings] is 38% worse than the previous worst year, so things are getting worse, not better."

"It [reduction in small boat crossings] can be done if there's the political will."

"[W]e will stop at nothing to dismantle their [people-smuggling gangs] business models [illegal small boat crossings] and bring them to justice."

Will Labour Reduce Small Boat Crossings in the English Channel?

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"The way things are going, just a year in — I genuinely think he will leave. I think he will be forced out."

"Starmer might have to go in months."

"I don't think he will survive a year [as prime minister]."

"Of course [he will be prime minister till 2029]."

How Long Will Keir Starmer Be UK's Prime Minister?

The Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction on Friday that would have required 138 asylum seekers to be removed from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex by Sept. 12. The three-judge panel ruled that the High Court judge made "errors in principle" when granting the original injunction earlier this month.

The Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction on Friday that would have required 138 asylum seekers to be removed from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex by Sept. 12. The three-judge panel ruled that the High Court judge made "errors in principle" when granting the original injunction earlier this month.

Lord Justice Bean, Lady Justice Davies and Lord Justice Cobb concluded that granting injunctions based on protests could "encouraging further lawlessness." According to Essex Police, 24 people had been arrested and 16 charged in connection to the protests concerning the hotel after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault.

Lord Justice Bean,  Lady Justice Davies and Lord Justice Cobb concluded that granting injunctions based on protests could "encouraging further lawlessness." According to Essex Police, 24 people had been arrested and 16 charged in connection to the protests concerning the hotel after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault.

High Court judge Mr Justice Eyre <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/court-orders-asylum-seekers-removed-from-essex-hotel">had ordered the hotel's closure</a> after finding it to have breached planning laws. However, the Court Appeal noted the "cumulative impact" on asylum accommodation, Epping Council's lack of complaint between 2020-24, and an incorrect portrayal of hotel owner Somani's breach of planning law as deliberate.

High Court judge Mr Justice Eyre had ordered the hotel's closure after finding it to have breached planning laws. However, the Court Appeal noted the "cumulative impact" on asylum accommodation, Epping Council's lack of complaint between 2020-24, and an incorrect portrayal of hotel owner Somani's breach of planning law as deliberate.

The Court concluded that the "undesirability of incentivising protests... the desirability in the interests of justice of preserving the status quo for the relatively brief period leading up to the forthcoming trial, and by the range of public interest factors" meant the hotel should not be closed.

The Court concluded that the "undesirability of incentivising protests... the desirability in the interests of justice of preserving the status quo for the relatively brief period leading up to the forthcoming trial, and by the range of public interest factors" meant the hotel should not be closed.

Home Office data shows 32,059 asylum seekers were housed in U.K. hotels by the end of June 2025, up from 29,585 a year earlier but down from a peak of 56,042 in 2023. Figures from the National Audit Office show the Home Office is expected to spend approximately £15.3 billion in asylum accommodation contracts between 2019 and 2029.

Home Office data shows 32,059 asylum seekers were housed in U.K. hotels by the end of June 2025, up from 29,585 a year earlier but down from a peak of 56,042 in 2023. Figures from the National Audit Office show the Home Office is expected to spend approximately £15.3 billion in asylum accommodation contracts between 2019 and 2029.

A full trial is scheduled for mid-October. The Labour government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament in 2029.

A full trial is scheduled for mid-October. The Labour government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament in 2029.

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Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, stated that granting injunctions based on protests could "act as an impetus or incentive for further protests" and risk "encouraging further lawlessness." The judges noted that 25 people had been arrested and 16 charged with criminal offences related to protests outside the hotel as of August 3, 2025.</span

Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, stated that granting injunctions based on protests could "act as an impetus or incentive for further protests" and risk "encouraging further lawlessness." The judges noted that 25 people had been arrested and 16 charged with criminal offences related to protests outside the hotel as of August 3, 2025.

The Bell Hotel has housed asylum seekers during three separate periods: May 2020 to March 2021, October 2022 to April 2024, and since April 2025 under a one-year contract with Corporate Travel Management. Epping Forest District Council took no enforcement action during the previous periods but filed for an injunction in August 2025 without prior notice to the hotel owner or Home Office.</span

The Bell Hotel has housed asylum seekers during three separate periods: May 2020 to March 2021, October 2022 to April 2024, and since April 2025 under a one-year contract with Corporate Travel Management. Epping Forest District Council took no enforcement action during the previous periods but filed for an injunction in August 2025 without prior notice to the hotel owner or Home Office.

The Court of Appeal granted the Home Secretary intervener status in the case, ruling that the Home Office has "statutory duties towards asylum seekers" under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and a "constitutional role relating to public safety." The judges said the High Court judge was wrong to refuse the Home Office's late application to join the proceedings.</span

The Court of Appeal granted the Home Secretary intervener status in the case, ruling that the Home Office has "statutory duties towards asylum seekers" under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and a "constitutional role relating to public safety." The judges said the High Court judge was wrong to refuse the Home Office's late application to join the proceedings.

Home Office data shows 32,059 asylum seekers were housed in UK hotels by the end of June 2025, up from 29,585 a year earlier but down from a peak of 56,042 in 2023. The Labour government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament in 2029, with Border Security Minister Angela Eagle stating the system costs £9 million per day.</span

Home Office data shows 32,059 asylum seekers were housed in UK hotels by the end of June 2025, up from 29,585 a year earlier but down from a peak of 56,042 in 2023. The Labour government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament in 2029, with Border Security Minister Angela Eagle stating the system costs £9 million per day.

A full trial on Epping Forest District Council's planning permission challenge is scheduled for mid-October 2025, approximately seven weeks after the original injunction date. The Court of Appeal emphasized the temporary nature of the August injunction and criticized the High Court for giving "very little weight to the desirability of preserving the status quo" until the trial.</span

A full trial on Epping Forest District Council's planning permission challenge is scheduled for mid-October 2025, approximately seven weeks after the original injunction date. The Court of Appeal emphasized the temporary nature of the August injunction and criticized the High Court for giving "very little weight to the desirability of preserving the status quo" until the trial.

The Court of Appeal correctly recognized that allowing protests to influence judicial decisions would incentivize further lawlessness and create chaos in the asylum system. Closing one site simply forces the government to find alternative accommodation elsewhere, potentially creating a domino effect of similar legal challenges across the country that would leave vulnerable asylum seekers homeless.

The Court of Appeal correctly recognized that allowing protests to influence judicial decisions would incentivize further lawlessness and create chaos in the asylum system. Closing one site simply forces the government to find alternative accommodation elsewhere, potentially creating a domino effect of similar legal challenges across the country that would leave vulnerable asylum seekers homeless.

Court Overturns Epping Asylum Hotel Closure Order

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The Court of Appeal's decision to overturn the High Court's shameful capitulation to far-right intimidation is a crucial victory for justice and fairness. Yet, unsurprisingly, this decision will be manipulated by the far-right to encourage even more hatred and violence. Compassion and care must continue to prevail over those seeking to divide Britain.

The Court of Appeal's decision to overturn the High Court's shameful capitulation to far-right intimidation is a crucial victory for justice and fairness. Yet, unsurprisingly, this decision will be manipulated by the far-right to encourage even more hatred and violence. Compassion and care must continue to prevail over those seeking to divide Britain.

The Court of Appeal's reversal in Epping exposes the British state;s warped priorities, putting illegal immigrants' comfort above British families' safety concerns. This government brazenly argued in court that asylum seekers' rights trump local communities' wellbeing. British people will no longer put up with this national betrayal.

The Court of Appeal's reversal in Epping exposes the British state;s warped priorities, putting illegal immigrants' comfort above British families' safety concerns. This government brazenly argued in court that asylum seekers' rights trump local communities' wellbeing. British people will no longer put up with this national betrayal.

First, the Bell Hotel was closed by a former Conservative activist, and now it is has been reopened by three judges with close ties to Labour. However you look at it, it is clear the British legal system is nothing more than a veil for party political interests.

First, the Bell Hotel was closed by a former Conservative activist, and now it is has been reopened by three judges with close ties to Labour. However you look at it, it is clear the British legal system is nothing more than a veil for party political interests.

There is a 31% chance that Labour will reduce small boat crossings in the English Channel by at least 50% during the current parliamentary term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 31% chance that Labour will reduce small boat crossings in the English Channel by at least 50% during the current parliamentary term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK: Appeals Court Overturns Epping Asylum Hotel Closure

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UK: Appeals Court Overturns Epping Asylum Hotel Closure

UK: Appeals Court Overturns Epping Asylum Hotel Closure

UK: Appeals Court Overturns Epping Asylum Hotel Closure Order

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UK: Appeals Court Overturns Epping Asylum Hotel Closure

UK: Appeals Court Overturns Epping Asylum Hotel Closure Order

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