In July 2025, an asylum seeker staying at the Bell hotel in the small Essex town of Epping was arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The incident sparked a series of violent protests by some local people and far-right actors from across the country over housing asylum seekers at the Bell. Even billionaire Elon Musk got involved. There were also counter-protests from residents appalled by what they saw as racism.
One year on: returning to Epping
Tim Burrows has travelled to Epping to speak to people about how the protests affected them. He tells Helen Pidd what he heard, and what happened to the hotel and those who were staying there. Twelve months after the first protest broke out, he charts how the town recovered from a summer of unrest.
The impact of the protests
According to Burrows, the protests deeply divided the community. Some residents felt the asylum seekers were a threat, while others were horrified by the racist rhetoric. The Bell hotel eventually closed its doors to asylum seekers, and the town has been working to heal the divisions.
Voices from the town
Burrows interviewed a range of residents, including a local shopkeeper who said, "It was terrifying. We've never seen anything like it in Epping." A counter-protester added, "We had to stand up against the hatred. It was important to show that not everyone in this town is racist."
The role of far-right groups
The protests were largely organized by far-right groups from outside Epping. Burrows notes that many of the protesters were not local, and their presence exacerbated tensions. The arrest of the asylum seeker was used as a catalyst for a broader anti-immigration agenda.
Recovery and reflection
One year later, the Bell hotel has been repurposed and no longer houses asylum seekers. The town has seen a decrease in far-right activity, but underlying tensions remain. Burrows concludes that Epping is slowly recovering, but the scars of the protests are still visible.
