The Cresta Court hotel near Manchester is used to hen parties and travelling businesspeople - now it’s attracted anti-migrant activists to its doors. Holly Bancroft speaks to people in Altrincham about the town’s reaction to a new asylum hotel. “Welcome back to Altrincham,” the video begins, as the woman holding the phone scans the courtyard in front of the Cresta Court hotel near Manchester.
![[Asylum seekers who live in the Cresta Court hotel (pictured) are being approached by anti-migrant activists]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/24/17/2184315746.jpg)
It’s a market town, in an affluent area with Premier League footballers living nearby. The hotel itself has hosted hen parties and businesspeople. Of late it’s attracted a different kind to its doors: anti-migrant activists, who are coming to the Cresta Court because of the asylum seekers now housed inside.
![[Police in riot gear confronted violent mobs who gathered in Hartlepool during the summer]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/11/02/11c69ea04f052d8ce2d7bada5c69e2bbY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI4NjUyNDQ2-2.77016705.jpg)
“It’s a persistent thing,” said local anti-racism campaigner Mark Krantz, referring to people turning up to video the hotel. “The lead security staff member told me it was almost every day that they have hostile individuals coming down.”. The hotel, which opened for asylum seekers at the end of October last year, has been the subject of intense debate in the local area, as well as a petition against its use brought by Conservative councillors.
![[Demonstrators at an anti-racism protest in Walthamstow, London, on 7 August 2024, following the summer riots]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/24/18/PA-77092149.jpg)
While small peaceful protests and counter-protests outside of the hotel have become a regular occurrence, so too have visits from far-right and anti-migrant groups. Far-right party Britain First has made a number of visits since the hotel opened, with co-leader Ashlea Simon filming a confrontation with security staff. Britain First activists also canvassed the local area with flyers against the people seeking asylum living there.
![[A police car burns as officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest in July following the mass stabbing in Southport]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/24/17/PA-77016635.jpg)
