Groups of anti-immigration activists and counter-protesters are expected to gather outside a Gloucester hotel housing asylum seekers this weekend.
The planned protest is due to take place outside the Ibis Hotel at Barnwood on Sunday afternoon. It has been organised by a group called Parents & Carers of Gloucestershire.
In a social media post, the group said: “We’re opposing the use of the Ibis hotel for asylum accommodation because many local families feel they were not consulted. Some parents and young women have expressed concerns about safety, and residents say their daily routines have changed as a result. We have reported incidents and worries to the authorities and we want those concerns taken seriously.”
Counter-protesters from the newly formed Gloucestershire Solidarity Network have confirmed they will be in attendance with a march planned from Barnwood Park to the hotel.
The newly formed group was created in August 2025 and is made up by a number of groups, including Gloucester and District Trades Council, Communist Party Gloucestershire and Palestine Solidarity Campaign Stroud District and Cheltenham branches.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Solidarity Network said:“We stand with people seeking asylum and we stand against division. These families and individuals deserve safety and respect while they rebuild their lives. We want communities in Gloucestershire to unite, not be driven apart by fear or misinformation.”
The Home Office continues to use hotels as temporary accommodation while asylum claims are processed — a policy facing criticism nationally amid rising numbers of small-boat arrivals and pressures on the asylum system.