Holiday Inn turn away two homeless men in subfreezing temperatures despite Good Samaritan paying for rooms
Amanda Thompson, from outreach group Two Brews, bought two rooms with breakfast included at the Holiday Inn Express in Manchester city centre for Monday night.
By ED HOLT
Published: 13:26 GMT, 8 January 2026 | Updated: 21:04 GMT, 8 January 2026
Two homeless men were turned away from a Holiday Inn Express and sent back out onto the street in subfreezing temperatures despite a Good Samaritan having already paid for their rooms.
Amanda Thompson, from outreach group Two Brews, bought two rooms with breakfast included at the Holiday Inn Express in Manchester city centre for Monday night.
She made the booking out of her own pocket and using donations to make sure the two men were safe and warm as temperatures across the city plummeted to below -6C.
But when the men, accompanied by a chaperon, arrived at the budget hotel they were promptly told by staff that their £201 booking could not be honoured and they were asked to leave.
Some Holiday Inn Express locations across Britain are used by governments for housing migrants.
A spokesman for the Manchester Oxford Road Holiday Inn Express said: 'We sincerely apologise to the guests affected and are taking steps internally to strengthen our training.'
The footage, shared on the Instagram account Madd Manneh, a member of staff on reception told the men he knew they were 'from the street' and the hotel 'doesn't allow' them to stay.
He said: 'Guys, I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not going to be able to check you in. Full truth and transparency, I know that you're from the street and the hotel doesn't allow it.
'It's not a personal thing. We know people, I've been doing the door for a long while. It's the company's policy. It's not mine personally, it's the company's.'
Thankfully, a nearby Travelodge accepted the booking saving the men from a night on the street just days after homeless father Anthony Horn, 47, was tragically found dead on a nearby canal path.
Once the video was shared online, comments flooded in, with one reading: 'Everyone deserves a chance in these conditions, terrible attitude.' Another responded: 'Cannot believe they wouldn't let them stay'.
Ms Thompson described the decision taken by the Holiday Inn as 'visual discrimination' and 'inhumane'.
She said: 'I couldn't get enough rooms at Travelodge, and some of the people we support can't walk very far so I need to book them into the nearest place.
'The nearest place I could get them in was the Holiday Inn. I put it through, got the confirmation and they were taken down to check in for the night. After getting there it was just complete discrimination by appearance.