Residents of a picturesque village in West Sussex have expressed growing anger and fear after footage emerged showing what has been described as the UK's 'poshest' migrant hotel. The Copthorne Hotel near Gatwick, a four-star establishment, is housing asylum seekers, with video revealing four-poster beds, a lavish buffet canteen, and rooms equipped with PlayStations and computers. The footage, filmed by contractor Aston Knight who worked there between October and December 2024, also appeared to show evidence of drug taking and beer cans littering rooms.
Richard Shapland, 74, who lives opposite the village green, told the Daily Mail: 'It's so intimidating for us, and it's frightening. I open my door and there are groups just standing on the green looking very suspicious.' He added that migrants have been urinating on the green where children play, and that complaints have been ignored. His wife Tina, 68, said: 'We've heard all sorts of stories about them shoplifting, stealing apples from trees and vegetables from the allotment.'
Janine Eaglestone, 55, who lives nearby, said she now locks her doors and windows at night after spotting groups of migrants peering over her wall. 'I'm sure the majority are very nice but there are some that just make me feel very intimidated,' she said, adding that young girls aged 12-13 have been stared at by groups of men on the green. Lily Gomez-Drader, 72, said: 'The mood of locals is one of growing anger, people have just had enough.'
On a local Facebook page, resident Nick Kent called for a protest, saying: 'I don't feel it's safe for the children any more.' The village, which has a pub, post office and golf club, has seen tensions rise as locals feel their concerns are being ignored by authorities.
