One of biggest migrant hotels costing taxpayer millions left empty for weeks

One of the UK's biggest migrant hotels which has cost the taxpayer millions of pounds has been completely empty for weeks, the Express can reveal. The public are still footing the eye-watering bill for the four-star Crowne Plaza hotel in West Drayton, near Heathrow airport despite no migrants staying there.

Lights have been seen switched off and curtains drawn inside the hotel over three days, with staffing numbers seemingly reduced too. On Tuesday morning, at least two people - believed to be taxpayer-funded security staff - were seen by the Express playing badminton under the hotel's porte-cochère. It comes after another difficult week for Labour and its record on illegal immigration which included a Channel migrant making a mockery of Sir Keir Starmer's 'one-in, one-out' deal with Emmanuel Macron.

The failed asylum seeker, understood to be an Iranian national, was deported to France under the agreement, only to return to the UK on a small boat weeks later.

Home Office sources maintain the Crowne Plaza London Heathrow hotel remains in use.

It is often used as accommodation when the Manston arrivals and processing centre in Kent reaches full capacity, it is understood.

During the summer, coaches carrying migrants would arrive at the Crowne Plaza close to the M4 on an almost daily basis, the Express has been told.

An 8ft wooden security barrier surrounds the whole hotel, some of which has been sprayed with graffiti including messages that read 'stop the boats' and 'go home'.

Around 50 people took part in a peaceful protest outside it on October 18.

It is believed the hotel opened to migrants as early as 2020, with locals saying it has caused tensions in the community.

Some migrants staying there have been turned away from a nearby food bank, it is understood.

The hotel provides the asylum seekers with three meals a day and, according to its website, has a number of amenities including an indoor swimming pool, gym and sauna.

Migrants staying in the accommodation previously told the Express it is "very nice".

Analysis by this newspaper in April showed the hotel could make almost £63 million over four years from paying guests, assuming an average room price of £92.50 per night and the hotel being at full capacity throughout that period.

Around half a dozen security staff were seen this week at the Crowne Plaza by the Express, while one contractor vehicle was spotted entering its grounds.

The hotel is a 15-minute drive from Heathrow and is not to be confused with another Crowne Plaza hotel in terminal four of Europe's busiest airport.

The number of small boat migrants who have crossed the Channel so far this year has passed the total for the whole of 2024.

Sources said the figure for 2025 has now exceeded the 36,816 who made the dangerous journey last year.

The cost of migrant hotels was £5.77 million per day in 2024/25, down from £8.3 million per day in 2023/24.

A Government spokesperson said: "Since taking office, we have taken immediate action to fix the asylum system and have started closing down hotels and returning more than 35,000 people with no right to be here.

"From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9 million a day, there are now less than 210, and we want them all closed by the end of this Parliament.

"We will continue to work closely with community partners across the country, and discuss any concerns they have, as we look to fix this broken system together. The security of the local communities within which hotels are located will always be our paramount concern."

Crowne Plaza's parent company, IHG, was approached for comment.