When a hotel becomes a hostel: My night at the moral crossroads of modern Britain

One uncomfortable night that made me question what I really believe

I faced a strange and challenging moral maze to deal with when I arrived at my hotel in Leeds last night, to discover that it was being used as a hostel for displaced Middle Eastern families and well as British men and women who appeared to be "singles".

There's a bit of a background to this:

1. For some years now I have stayed at The Crowne Plaza for our Leeds workshops;

2. Normally, I'm looking at c.£175 for a bed and breakfast booking;

3. Last night (21st May) you couldn't get any decent hotel rooms in the centre of Leeds for less than £575 - believe me, we tried, but there were 2 big conferences on in the city and "real time pricing" was implemented. Tuesday night - £175, Wednedsay night £575, Thursday night, back to £175.

So, after all sorts of travel plans changed (you don't need to know), I ended up joining Neil Harris last night at:

The Holiday Inn Express - Leeds East.

Take a look at the website and you will see details for just a normal Holiday Inn Express - they do all pretty much look the same.

6 miles out, car parking, easy access from the motorway system - it will be 3-star but a decent bed for the night.

On arrival at 18:45 last night, as I exited my car I heard a baby crying and instinctively looked up to see that most of the window sills on the first floor were piled high with domestic paraphernalia.

I knew immediately what I was looking at because back in Hale, Cheshire (my former home), the local hotel has been converted into a refugee hostel and those window sills looked exactly the same back there.

Probably a good moment to share that I don't have a problem with hotels converted into "hostels" for refugees as my experience back in Hale was of families who had been displaced and trying their best to make a life - decent people whose very existence had been uprooted by the politicians, despots and religious fanatics who cause so much distress in the world.

But......

I thought it somewhat unusual that my hotel would be open to traditional customers, at the same time as fulfilling this function?

Having checked in and changed, I walked 5 minutes down the road to The New Masons Arms for a pub dinner and the first half of The Europa League final.

At half time they switched the sound off for their weekly pub quiz - so I wandered back to the hotel and set myself up with laptop and a Diet Coke to watch the (miserable) second half - and to wait for Neil Harris (due at 21:30) and explain his unusual digs for the night.

Whilst waiting a young and very ginger Scottish lad appeared at reception and commenced a loud and aggressive verbal attack on the reception team - something to do with knocking on his door the previous night to check on what he was doing - him demanding to see "the register of tenants" and complaining of victimisation.

Whilst he did this, and I earwigged whilst watching the football, and various women arrived and departed in dressing gowns and slippers, having congregated just outside the hotel door for smokes and chats in the car park.

The head of reception eventually had to explain to our Scottish friend that unless he toned down the volume, language and hostility, she was going to all the police. That seemed to quieten him down and he exited the scene. It was all very intimidating.

Neil arrived, we chatted over United's demise and I retired to my room at 22:00.

No noises in the night - actually a good night's sleep.

So, my moral maze....

I watch the saga of "the boats" on TV, sufficiently distanced from the reality that it just becomes another news story - Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, boats.....

I watched the riots last year - equally distanced.

Then I find myself facing a small but significant reality - I've just checked in to a refugee hotel.

I remain bewildered as to why and how Holiday Inn think it's OK to do that and to make no reference to the dual-status on their website.

I remain conflicted as my discomfort at the situation stands in opposition to my support of our obligation to help.

Funny, isn't it, how when it's somebody else's problem you can stand at a distance and judge - and yet when it's your reality you feel your emotions playing havoc?

This morning?

1. Had a great night's sleep;

2. Rather happy that I'll be heading in to the city in the next hour;

3. Annoyed with Holiday Inn;

4. Embarrassed at myself that I felt so uncomfortable last night;

5. Counting my blessings again.