Blackpool Council issues update on the Metropole Hotel

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The Government has made the correct decision here."

In a statement issued earlier today the council posted......

"We’ve been informed by the Home Office that they will be serving notice on The Metropole as asylum accommodation and it will be no longer used by the end of July 2026."

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The Government has made the correct decision here. The Metropole was never the right place to house people fleeing persecution and seeking asylum and we challenged it from the very beginning.

“I’m happy that the Government has listened to our case for it to be closed early and for people seeking asylum to live somewhere more suitable while their claim is being processed.

“The truth is that, unlike other hotels in the country, The Metropole housed parents and families rather than single males. We worked hard with the Home Office to make sure that was the case.

“Over the last year, as the asylum process has sped up, the numbers of people in the Metropole has started to fall and many people will be relieved to hear that from this summer people waiting for their asylum decision will live somewhere more suitable.

“We now have to look at the next stage. The owners of The Metropole need to work with us and come up with a plan to invest heavily in the building so it can contribute to the visitor economy again and create jobs for Blackpool people. It was a glorious hotel once and I want it to be loved and restored and part of our vision to make Blackpool better.”

"We know some of you will want to know what happens next" the council statement went on to say.

""The Home Office is responsible for looking after where people will go, however the numbers of people still staying in the Metropole has fallen significantly."

You can learn more from the Home Office about what happens to people when a hotel is closed, here: https://bit.ly/GOV-AS-Info or watch this short video here: https://bit.ly/AS-Reel

Social housing on the Fylde coast is subject to a local policy that means it is only available for people who've lived here for the last three years. You can read more about that here: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/SocialHousing