Dozens circle Solihull hotel in anti-asylum protest as tensions flare

Dozens of people, including parents with young children and babies, gathered outside the Castle Bromwich hotel this afternoon

Dozens of anti-immigration protestors gathered outside and circled a Solihull hotel as as part of a wave of asylum hotel protests across the country.

The protestors were demonstrating under the Abolish Asylum System slogan outside the Castle Bromwich Holiday Inn Express.

There has been an uptick in protests across the nation this Bank Holiday weekend as tensions flare and anti-migrant groups demonstrate in major towns and cities including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle and Horley in Surrey.

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BirminghamLive was at the site of the protest for an hour on Sunday and watched how a small group of around six people grew to dozens.

Shouts of “save our children” and crude criticism of Keir Starmer rang out from a growing group of protestors, who turned their attention to the residents inside the hotel.

One man wore a t-shirt saying “send the f*****g boats back”, another wore a cap saying “make Britain great again.”

People demonstrating under the Abolish Asylum System slogan outside the Castle Bromwich Holiday Inn in Birmingham on Sunday August 24, 2025(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

Others hurled abuse by sticking their two fingers up and pointing and jeering at residents inside.

By around 12.30pm, the flag-draped group then moved from standing outside the hotel entrance, to going around the side and back, and circling it.

While some peacefully protested, others antagonised the families inside. One man shouted: “Jump out the window”, another shouted “come out and have a word” at the residents.

One topless man stood between two people filming, and a dozens of drivers beeped their horns on the nearby Chester Road.

Dozens of anti-immigration protestors gathered outside the Castle Bromwich Holiday Inn Express on Sunday August 24. Demos are taking place across the country under the Abolish Asylum System slogan. Pictured: Peace chaplains handing out flowers(Image: BirminghamLive)

Speakers blared Rule Britannia and Three Lions as St George’s and Union Jack flags were raised, as well as a Reform UK flag with the slogan “Let’s make Britain great.”

There were also a number of children, including babies in prams being pushed by parents, some of whom then migrated to the pub next door to the hotel.

People demonstrating under the Abolish Asylum System slogan outside the Castle Bromwich Holiday Inn on Sunday August 24, 2025(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

BirminghamLive did not witness any violence in the hour we were there, and a group of West Midlands Police officers were brought in to guard the door of the hotel.

Also at the site was a group of around right ‘peace chaplains’ from nearby Hodge Hill Church.

Rev Al Barrett told BirminghamLive the group were handing out cakes and flowers to both sides and had informed residents in the hotel that their church was open as a “safe place.”

Rev Barrett told BirminghamLive: “We’re here to express our love for those inside and outside the hotel.

“We’ve opened our church and dropped cakes and flowers to residents. We’ve offered hotel residents a safe place to stay. We’re not here to enter into debate but to show a bit of love and show England is somewhere where people can be safe.”

Dozens of anti-immigration protestors gathered outside the Castle Bromwich Holiday Inn Express on Sunday August 24. Demos are taking place across the country under the Abolish Asylum System slogan(Image: BirminghamLive)

BirminghamLive has asked West Midlands Police if any arrests were made.

Commenting on the protests in general, West Midlands Police’s assistant chief constable Matt Welsted said: “We understand the concerns people have about their communities and will always balance the right to freedom of expression with the need to tackle crime.

“We have strong relationships with our communities and continue to build trust with them to come and speak to us.

Police officers stand by the door as people demonstrate under the Abolish Asylum System slogan outside the Castle Bromwich Holiday Inn on Sunday August 24, 2025(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

“We urge communities to carefully consider information that they read, share and trust and if in doubt we would always encourage them to speak to us or their community leaders.

“It is important to note that the Home Office have oversight and management of all immigration processes, this is not the role or responsibility of the police.

“In the West Midlands, we have seen a small number of peaceful protests.

“However, we have assisted in providing support to other forces as part of national contingency plans.

“Our priority is always to keep people safe and in every decision around policing, public order and protests we must balance the right to freedom of expression with the right to tackle crime so we can ensure public safety.”