Opposing groups protest outside asylum seeker hotel

A crowd gathers in support of asylum seekers outside a Mercure hotel in Bristol city centre

Two groups peacefully gathered in Bristol city centre earlier to voice opposing views on immigration.

About 100 anti-immigration protesters turned up to a planned demonstration outside the Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel, which is housing asylum seekers, and near Bristol Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

A group of about 300 to 400 counter-protesters had arrived beforehand in support of the asylum seekers, surrounding the hotel.

Police kept the two groups apart for about 90 minutes until the anti-immigration protesters walked away.

Police have been prepared for disorder since hundreds of far-right protesters gathered at Castle Park and clashed with a counter-protest group on 3 August, in 2024.

Officers had been given enhanced powers which allowed them to ask people to remove face coverings.

They have put in place a dispersal order which will allow them to move people on until 07:00 BST on Sunday.

Police officers were prepared in case of disorder but the protests took place peacefully

Counter-protesters arrived with signs bearing slogans such as "protect people not borders" and "no one is illegal".

A few wore face coverings so they couldn't be identified as they chanted slogans in support of asylum seekers and refugees.

A woman wearing a "Make Britain Great Again" cap was jeered at as she walked through the crowd, before being escorted away by police.

By the time the anti-immigration protesters arrived for their protest, they were vastly outnumbered.

"It feels like a moment to support people who are very vulnerable," said Polly Eldridge. "I think its abhorrent that the far-right decide that they're going to do this outside where individuals are staying."

But among around 100 anti-immigration protesters, Kevin Starr said "this isn't about racism, it's about right and wrong".

"I'm not against immigration if you're legitimately fleeing war," he said. "If the government did what they were supposed to do, none of this would be happening."

Protesters supporting asylum seekers surrounded a hotel housing them in Bristol

The latest Home Office statistics show there were 1,265 asylum seekers in Bristol in March 2025.

Of those, 892 were living in what the government calls "contingency accommodation" – hotels, hostels or other emergency accommodation.

That's the sixth highest number in the country – only four London boroughs and Birmingham have more asylum seekers living in hotels.

The figures suggest there are no asylum seekers living in hotels in Bath, Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, South Gloucestershire, Stroud, Tewkesbury or Wiltshire.

'Will not be tolerated'

Speaking before the protests, Serena Serjeant from Avon and Somerset Police said any form of disorder "will not be tolerated".

"It is important we ensure the safety of both those participating in the protests and the wider public, this is why we have put this operation and these additional powers in place," she said.

Bristol's protests on Saturday followed a wave of recent demonstrations across the country outside hotels housing refugees and asylum seekers.