Thanks to a Hull hotel, 28 homeless people may be on the streets this Christmas

Homeless man on the street with his dog


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A Hull hotel has come under fire after cancelling a booking made for 28 homeless people over Christmas. The booking was made by Raise the Roof Homeless Project at the Royal Hotel, Hull costing £1092 for 14 twin rooms for two nights. The hotel, which is part of Britannia Hotels Ltd, cancelled the booking with “no reason given”:

Carl Simpson, the project’s founder, said on Facebook he was “gutted and very angry” about the booking being cancelled.

“We need a miracle”

Because of the cancellation, it is looking likely that a further 28 homeless people will be sleeping on the streets this Christmas because Simpson is yet to receive his refund. He said on Facebook that “we need a miracle” to be able to secure and pay for an alternative venue.

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As reported by the BBC, Simpson wanted to recreate “the success of last Christmas” when he booked 28 people into an Ibis for two nights. Simpson told the BBC:

After the stay they were so grateful. Some left staff gifts using the very little money they had, and one asked if he could vacuum the rooms to show his appreciation. This means the world to homeless people. Last year we had tears of joy from someone who stood on the edge of the Humber Bridge the night before.

He concluded saying:

We have to break the news to people that the hotel has been cancelled.

As of 17 December, no-one from the Royal Hotel Hull was available to give comment to a number media outlets.

Twitter reaction

People on Twitter reacted with fury after the story broke. Writer and welfare blogger Alex Tiffin stated the action of the hotel reflected “Britain 2018”:

Welfare Scotland chair Rob McDowall also responded:

Meanwhile, others also called out Britannia Hotels:

Now it appears the hotel’s Twitter account no longer exists:

The BBC‘s Victoria Derbyshire is looking for people that can help:

And Bridlington Town manager Curtis Woodhouse has already offered to help:

The Royal Hotel Hull and Britannia Hotels Ltd are rightly being called out for their actions. But the onus is on us all to remind those in power about the homelessness crisis which has swept the UK and demand they tackle it.

Let us also hope that Simpson and those at Raise the Roof Homeless Project in Hull will find an alternative venue for the 28 homeless people.

Featured image via: Benjamin Brock/Wiki Commons 

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Get involved

  • Support Raise the Roof Homeless Project’s Go Fund Me page.

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