Unregulated Takeaway Kitchen in Asylum Hotel Sparks Outrage
A hidden takeaway kitchen operating within a taxpayer-funded asylum hotel has been shut down following its exposure online. The incident has raised serious concerns about the management of asylum accommodation and the potential misuse of public funds.
The Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which houses over 300 migrants, was found to be running a pop-up kitchen that served as a collection point for food delivery services like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. This revelation has led to an immediate investigation by the Home Office, which has described the operation as "wholly unacceptable."
The Home Office confirmed that action has been taken to stop the service from continuing at the site. A spokesperson stated, "We are in close contact with the provider and will investigate further." The operation came to light after a video posted on YouTube by TH101UK, an activist group that claims to inspect migrant hotels, showed two men entering the premises to investigate its use as a business.
The footage revealed a sign on the door stating, "Uber Eats, Deliveroo Collection Point," before the men were escorted away by security personnel. The four-star hotel is managed by EC4 Hotel Ltd, which also owns three other properties. The company is owned by Nadja Kovic Nassar, a 66-year-old based in Monaco.
The Home Office spends approximately £5 million daily on contracts with companies such as Clearsprings, Mears Group, and Serco to provide asylum accommodation. Mears Group currently oversees the Cedar Court Hotel as part of a nationwide deal with the government that involves £2.5 billion in taxpayer funding over ten years, from 2019 to 2029.
An ongoing investigation is examining whether EC4 Hotel Ltd breached its contract by sub-letting its kitchen to fast-food businesses Big Boi Burgers and Absurd Stacks. These companies have since been removed from both Uber Eats and Deliveroo pending further inquiries. They are alleged to have operated a "dark kitchen" from the hotel, a model that focuses solely on takeout services without a physical dining area.
Dark kitchens have gained popularity due to the rise of food delivery platforms like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. Although Big Boi Burgers and Absurd Stacks were granted licenses by Wakefield Council, the authority has launched its own inquiry into the situation, according to YorkshireLive.
There were concerns that some migrants housed in the hotel might have been illegally working as delivery drivers for the food apps. However, the Home Office clarified that residents were not involved in running the kitchen. A statement from the Home Office said, "This activity is wholly unacceptable. We take all allegations of misuse of asylum accommodation and the safety of residents extremely seriously. We will now be investigating."
In 2023, the Home Office announced plans to increase the number of migrants accommodated at the hotel from 148 to 306. The recent controversy has left local residents upset, with one neighbor telling the Sun, "I was shocked to see the Deliveroo sign at the back but not surprised." The individual expressed frustration over the lack of care for existing communities when migrants are placed in small rural areas.
A report released in May highlighted that the three companies—Clearsprings, Mears, and Serco—have made a combined profit of £383 million since 2019, despite rising costs for managing asylum accommodation.
Deliveroo responded to the incident by stating, "Virtual brands like Absurd Stacks are fully registered food businesses, offering a delivery-only restaurant service. After being made aware of the potential relationship between the hotel group running the virtual brand and the Home Office, we suspended them from our platform while we investigate further."
Uber Eats also confirmed it had suspended the restaurant's access to its platform and was conducting a full investigation. Meanwhile, a representative from Wakefield Council noted, "The Home Office is responsible for asylum accommodation and the arrangements with providers. Whilst EC4 Hotels Ltd were compliant with all the processes the council has to follow, we do share the Home Office’s concerns. We will be seeking an urgent meeting to discuss their contractual arrangements with accommodation providers."
MailOnline has reached out to Cedar Hotel, EC4 Hotel Ltd, and Mears for further comment.
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