Hundreds gather to demonstrate at Brook Hotel in Norwich

The Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe was one of the locations leaked on a list of more than 100 far-right rallies planned across the country this evening. 

Demonstrators in front of the Best Western Brook Hotel (Image: Bruno Brown) Dozens of police are also at the scene ready to respond, but so far it appears as though no significant numbers from the far-right have turned up to the hotel which houses around 80 asylum seekers and refugees. 

Mr Girling pictured outside The Brook Hotel (Image: Bruno Brown) Mr Girling, 80, who is at the event says that while he has no problem with foreign people, asylum seekers are costing billions of pounds a year to support. 

He added: “It’s nothing to do with racism we have foreign neighbours and they are totally welcome and friendly. 

“People coming here illegally is a problem because the country is overpopulated and we can only take so many."

Within the crowd, many carry placards reading "Refugees welcome here" and are chanting a similar rhetoric.

MP Clive Lewis at the demonstration (Image: Bruno Brown) The MP for Norwich South, Clive Lewis, who had earlier been criticised after posting on X that he would be attending the event, addressed the crowd using a megaphone.

Mr Lewis said he was there to join his constituents in "a show of peaceful support and solidarity for the asylum seekers living in the hotel", following the "racist, terrorist riots" which had taken place across the country in recent days. 

Hugh Stanners, an organiser from Stand Up To Racism Norwich (Image: Bruno Brown) Hugh Stanners, an organiser from Stand Up To Racism Norwich said: “Our group has tripled in the last three days - people are concerned by threat of bigotry and the far-right. 

“We are in an absolute majority but we need to mobilise and give them hope because it is despair which brings people to the right. 

“We will be out on Saturday because fascists have called a protest at Lloyd’s in Gentleman’s Walk. 

“We need everyone together to unite against the threat posed.” 

Counter-protestor Penny Voyce (Image: Bruno Brown) Penny Voyce, a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, is one of those who have arrived to counter-protest. 

She said: “I am really delighted to see so many people here.

"It’s great to see so many people here who understand where all the hatred it coming from.

"The fact the far-right hasn’t turned up yet is testament to what a simple show of forces can do to deter them - we are not going to stand for bigotry."