Ibis Hotel Irving Street

[petermisc]

The Ibis Irving Street is a motel-type hotel, and so is good for outcalls.  However, they have suddenly closed for a year.  I have just had my bookings cancelled.

Can't find anything that explains why they have closed so suddenly.  Anyone know?

[JontyR]

Dunno, my guess is refugees. Lay off the staff, no cleaners or reception. Sheets replaced once a week. Maximise the profit. Would be fucking grim staying there I reckon.

[InMefan]

That's a shame. I've used it a few times before but not for over a year. It was pretty discreet and the price wasn't too bad for a day room.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

That's a shame. I've used it a few times before but not for over a year. It was pretty discreet and the price wasn't too bad for a day room.

It’s the other side of the city centre but the Clayton Hotel on Albert Street is a good choice for a day room.

[Punting2022]

Will probably become one of those hotels to house refugees, too many around atm.

[Brumish]

Yep, it's far more lucrative to house asylum seekers and charge the government than to operate a normal hotel now. I uspect these will be long term contracts too

[nwluvit]

Last time I stayed (18 months ago ish) there were a lot of dodgy (probably not the right word - I mean people that you would not normally associate staying in a hotel) characters around. Guess its now asylum seekers. Used to be cheap and friendly and very close to the "Skyline" Thais back in the day.

[alibirmingham]

One of the more discreet hotels for punting which I used many times in the past. But can only imagine it’s looking very tired now.

The refugee asylum case may be true but also wouldn’t rule out a full refurb on the place by the hotel operators. It’s a good prime location which has been neglected for some time but with more fancy hotels springing up literally around the block they may have finally seen sense and planing an upgrade.

Either way I’ll be keeping a close eye on things to see which way it goes.

[petermisc]

If it were a refurb, I would have expected it to be planned some time in advance, not for them to be shutting the hotel and cancelling existing reservations with just a few days notice.  I had been wondering if they had a fire or suchlike that caused them to shut at such short notice, but no reports that I can find, so I suspect the owners have got a refugee contract.

I suspect the hotel is owned by a franchisee - if it were owned by Ibis/Accor, I would have expected some incentive to rebook with another of their hotels.

[RandomGuy99]

Google Maps reports the hotel as permanently closed.

[Brumish]

The refugee crisis is snowballing rapidly. A lot of Hgaley hotels have started to do this. Places like Birmingham will be more attractive to the government as there's likely to be least resistance from the public. A lot of the hotels in the surrounding areas are likely to be approached too.
The only saving grace for rates still being at a competitive level is the due to Air BnB and VRBO...I still prefer hotels for SBs

[JontyR]

The refugee crisis is snowballing rapidly. A lot of Hgaley hotels have started to do this. Places like Birmingham will be more attractive to the government as there's likely to be least resistance from the public. A lot of the hotels in the surrounding areas are likely to be approached too.

I think before everyone goes off and starts joining a Patriotic Alternative march it is fair to point out that much of the previous hotel capacity has been used for other things.

Every independent family run hotel that used to be around my area was taken over by council bookings years ago. Many also became care homes.

If it were a refurb, I would have expected it to be planned some time in advance, not for them to be shutting the hotel and cancelling existing reservations with just a few days notice.  I had been wondering if they had a fire or suchlike that caused them to shut at such short notice, but no reports that I can find, so I suspect the owners have got a refugee contract.

It could be both, I'd expect a refurb to be done floor by floor. But the thought of having customers that won't be complaining whilst all this is carried out is a result for the owners