Protesters gathered outside the Bell Hotel in Epping have booed at a car coming out that appeared to have migrants in it, our reporter on the ground Adam Toms reports. A group of 20 of so demonstrators are outside the site, after the owner of the Bell Hotel in Epping won a legal appeal that means the building can remain open as an accommodation for asylum seekers.
A video showed a couple of the protesters, some of whom were holding Union and George Cross flags, booing at a car that went by. Meanwhile, Anne Hall, a former Epping resident at the protest, told the Express that today’s decision is “very disappointing” and she’s “sure many of the local residents in Epping will be very disappointed with what’s been said”.
Ms Hall, who still has family in Epping, hopes for a different outcome at the full hearing in mid October, when the council could still be granted a further injunction to stop migrants being housed there.
“I think with what we’ve heard today, I don’t think the protesters will be going away any time soon.
Asked if it’s counterproductive to grant the injunction as it could spark further protests, Ms Hall said: “I think that with what’ happened today there’s going to be more protests in Epping, and I think because of what was said yesterday, about the asylum seekers being more important than the residents of Epping, I think as a nation there’ll be more protests.”
Shirley Mooney, 68, used to work at the Bell Hotel in 1998/9 in conferencing and banqueting.
She’s lived in Epping for 31 years and told The Daily Express that the asylum seekers have won, asking: “Why can’t they just go?”
A Pink Lady named Carmen, 60, who didn’t wish to provide her surname or occupation has living Epping for four years, and has attended nearly every protest outside the hotel on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, she said: “I’m absolutely heartbroken.”
“They’re probably all laughing in there, aren’t they?”, Carmen said.
“The fact they’re saying they’ve got more rights than we have – it’s an absolute joke. Keir Starmer needs to go.”
It comes after three senior judges ruled that Yvette Cooper’s department can intervene in the case related to a temporary injunction concerning the town in Essex.
Somani Hotels, which owns the property, and the Home Office sought to challenge a High Court ruling which would have prevented 138 asylum seekers from being housed there beyond September 12.
On Friday, Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, said that Mr Justice Eyre made an “erroneous” decision not to let the department be involved. Reading a summary of their decision, Lord Justice Bean said the Home Office had a “constitutional role relating to public safety” and was affected by the issues.
He continued: “The judge’s approach ignores the obvious consequence that the closure of one site means capacity needs to be identified elsewhere in the system.” Quashing the injunction, Lord Justice Bean also said: “We grant permission to appeal, both to Somani and to (the Home Office).” He continued: “We allow the appeals and we set aside the injunction imposed on 19 August 2025.”