Migrants inside UK hotel complain that free chicken nuggets and chips are making them ill
Kadir, an Iraqi asylum seeker in the UK for nine years with his family, moaned that the hotel food was “chips and chicken nuggets”.
EPPING, UNITED KINGDOM – AUGUST 31: Police officers stand outside The Bell Hotel during a protest ag (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Asylum seekers in UK hotels have complained their free meals are causing health issues. Rather than continue to risk the likes of chicken nuggets and chips, many have taken to cooking illegally in their rooms despite safety risks. Some are also exploiting the system by working illegally to supplement their weekly allowance, an investigation found.
The BBC’s File on 4 visited four asylum hotels this summer, finding widespread dissatisfaction with repetitive, processed food, which residents say causes stomach pains and other ailments. Kadir, an Iraqi asylum seeker in the UK for nine years with his family, dismissed the hotel food as “chips and chicken nuggets” and noted residents’ complaints that it makes them feel ill.
To avoid it, Kadir and others use electric cookers in bathrooms, with extension cables and sealed smoke alarms. He said: “Everybody, they’re cooking in their rooms like this. We all do it, but we do it undercover.”
The Home Office, overseeing asylum accommodation, provides three daily meals through contractors, stating they meet nutritional standards. It did not address specific health complaints.
The hotels, repurposed for asylum use, house about 32,000 people across the UK, down from 51,000 in 2023. The government plans to end their use by 2029 amid rising costs and protests.
Demonstrations targeted sites, including one in Epping, Essex, in August 2025, after a resident’s sexual assault conviction.
The UK Border Force vessel ‘Ranger’ brings migrants into Dover port (Image: Getty Images)
Protesters waved England flags, holding signs reading “Protect Our Children.”
The BBC observed families with children, many born during long asylum waits. A Somali father mistakenly believed his newborn would gain British citizenship. The Refugee Council’s Jon Featonby said extra safeguards apply, but deportation remains possible.
Some residents work illegally to supplement their £9.95 weekly allowance. Mohammed, from Afghanistan, said he earns £20 for 10-hour shifts to repay smugglers, despite laws prohibiting employment.
Staff noted residents leaving at odd hours, with delivery bikes and vans spotted. A July 2025 Home Office crackdown led to 280 arrests for illegal working, with 53 facing support reviews.
Hotel residents watch from the windows as protesters gather outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel (Image: PA)
High taxi costs were another issue, with automated bookings for medical appointments. Kadir described a 250-mile round trip costing £600 for a knee consultation, saying: “This is the easy way, and they know they spend too much money.”
Security guard Curtis linked boredom to illegal work: “You’ve got nothing to occupy these guys. So of course, they’re going to go out there and work.”
Children face challenges, including fear of protesters. Kadir’s 12-year-old daughter, Shayan, said: “You never know what [the protesters] will do to the bus.” She added: “Me and my friends have always wanted to go up to them and speak to them face-to-face. What is their problem with the kids as well?”
The BBC withheld hotel locations to protect residents and staff. Stories included an elderly couple supporting others despite health issues, but many, like Kadir’s family, face uncertainty after multiple moves.
Since the investigation, Kadir’s family refused a relocation splitting them across cities 200 miles apart, risking loss of benefits and homelessness.
The Home Office said it lacks data on children born in hotels or taxi spending, stating meals are “balanced and culturally appropriate where possible.”
Refugee advocates urged improvements. Featonby said poor nutrition worsens mental health in a system with years-long waits.
Asylum claims are rising, with small boat crossings ongoing. Ministers have not announced immediate changes to food or hotel conditions.
