Owner of Chase Hotel, Ross, expresses 'horror' over BNP meeting

The owner of a Ross-on-Wye hotel has said he will take measures to stop the British National Party (BNP) staying at the venue in the future.

Angry scenes greeted a fund-raising dinner that saw senior BNP figures, including leader Nick Griffin, stay at the Chase Hotel. Their presence led to nearly 100 protesters venting their anger outside the premises. But Alan Porter, a member of the family that owns the Chase, has told the Hereford Times of his horror when he discovered the booking.

“This event was booked by a private individual,” said Mr Porter. “Nobody had any suspicions until 48 hours before. It cannot happen again and we are taking measures to prevent this.”

But with the dinner booked, the hotel’s legal advice was to honour the arrangement because there was a contract, he said. “My reaction was of horror and shock. The policies of the BNP are abhorrent to me, my family and, to my knowledge, all members of the team.”

Mr Porter, who lives in Ross, said there had been no adverse reaction or cancellations since the event, which saw the hotel hiring its own security.

Mr Griffin’s arrival in Herefordshire came two days after his controversial appearance on Question Time.

Hereford Times

Scuffles break out among BNP opponents in Ross-on-Wye

Scuffles broke out this evening outside The Chase Hotel in Ross-on-Wye as some protesters tried to stop BNP (British National Party) supporters arriving at a fund-raising event.

Police put one protester in the back of a police van after a man appeared to lash out at a car which arrived for the BNP dinner.

An egg was thrown at another vehicle which arrived at the hotel.

Demonstrators had started to arrive at The Chase Hotel shortly before 5pm and, within minutes, more people came to voice their disapproval at the BNP’s presence.

Many people told Hereford Times reporter Paul Rogers that BNP leader Nick Griffin was at the event.

Jesse Norman and Philippa Roberts, the respective Conservative and Labour parliamentary candidates for Herefordshire and South Herefordshire, were among the 100-strong crowd gathered outside the hotel.

Hereford Times