Are hotels being told to shut down?

[AnotherSlice]

I know the law will be that from Thursday we are not allowed to stay away from home, so I want to cancel my booking with Premier Inn next weekend.

However are hotels, by law, prevented from accepting a booking?

I booked the cheapest 'no flex, no refund' booking,.

Their website says:
Please note, we will not be able to offer refunds for cancellations which fall outside of the terms and conditions applicable to your rate type, noting in particular the enhanced flexibility we have provided with our rates...However in the event the Government introduces stricter lockdown measures which makes it illegal for Premier Inn to permit you to stay at the hotel you’ve booked (for example we are only allowed to let key workers stay and you are not a key worker), we will consider refunds on a case-by-case basis. You remain responsible for your own compliance with law and you should ensure that you keep up to date with regulations and guidance applicable to you... Where we cannot accept your booking due to legal requirements on us, we’ll need to contact you to cancel and refund or amend

So - have the Gvt put legal requirements on hotels - or just on potential guests?

Hotels, hostels and other accommodation should only open for those who have to travel for work purposes and for a limited number of other exemptions which will be set out in law

www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#businesses-and-venues

Dh has to go to work in another city one day a week (it’s classed as key worker work for a local authority). He’s always worked from home the other days just in one day and it’s too far to drive up and down in one day.

He block books the premier inn round the corner. It did stay open through the last lockdown for key workers so he was fine. It was closed to everyone else. I’m assuming for work purposes it will be okay again - although Dh did have to prove key worker status to them. He couldn’t book in the usual way either, he had to call each time.

Thank you.

It looks as if I will get a refund then. Though the word ‘should’ might cost me £49. I’ll wait and see what it says when they set it out in law.

Hi, I know this is an old thread but I was wondering what the outcome was @AnotherSlice

I have a 'non refundable' booking I have to cancel because it will be illegal to go, and I'm trying to work out if I'll get a refund. Basically I can transfer the booking, but if there's an opportunity of a refund I'd prefer that as I've changed my mind about which Premier Inn I want to stay in!