A luxury hotel magnate is at the centre of a firestorm after covertly transforming his multi-million-pound country estate into accommodation for asylum seekers, leading to the dismissal of furious staff members.
Robert Glanville, director of the renowned Imperial Hotel in Hyde Park, has ignited local outrage in the affluent village of Taplow, Buckinghamshire, by repurposing his sprawling £20m mansion without consulting the community or his employees.
A Secret Deal and Staff Backlash
The Home Office-contracted operation was conducted in secrecy, with workers at the Imperial Hotel only discovering the plan as migrants began arriving at the property, named 'The Spinney'. The revelation prompted immediate unrest among staff, culminating in several sackings.
One former employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: "Morale has hit rock bottom. To find out through the grapevine that your boss is doing this, while we're all working hard at the hotel, is a real slap in the face. People are absolutely livid."
Local Outcry and Security Concerns
Residents of the quiet, picturesque village have expressed profound alarm at the sudden arrival of dozens of asylum seekers, many of whom were seen being escorted by security personnel. The property, previously a single-family home, now houses a significant number of individuals.
Local councillor George Sandy voiced the community's fears: "This was done with no consultation whatsoever. We have serious concerns about the pressure on local services, the suitability of the location, and the complete lack of transparency. It's a quiet, rural area—this is totally inappropriate."
Home Office Under Fire
The incident has cast a renewed spotlight on the Home Office's controversial and costly policy of using private properties to house migrants. The department has remained tight-lipped, confirming only that it "provides accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute" while their claims are processed.
Critics have seized on the situation, arguing it exemplifies a broken system that prioritises expensive, private contracts over community cohesion and proper planning. An investigation by the UK Border Force is now understood to be underway.
The situation remains tense in Taplow, symbolising the wider national conflict between government policy, private profit, and local community rights amidst the ongoing immigration crisis.
