A READING hotel has closed to the public after the government took over the running of the building.

easyHotel, on Caversham Road, told customers who had booked rooms they could no longer stay due to the sudden change in use.

An email seen by the Chronicle sent to one customer read: “Unfortunately easyHotel Reading is closing down to the public as the UK government is taking over the entire hotel for exclusive use.”

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The email goes on to say that customers will be given full refunds but does not explain why the government is taking control of the hotel.

The Chronicle has contacted Reading easyHotel’s management to explain the change in use.

A spokesperson said: “I can confirm that EasyHotel Reading is currently closed to business due to a private booking.

“We are unable to comment on any private booking or guests within that booking, but please contact our sales team for details on our availability and to make future reservations.”

In June, Reading’s Penta Hotel closed down as a government-run coronavirus quarantine managed facility after the Delta variant spread between residents and staff.

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Quarantine hotels are for travellers returning from ‘red-listed’ countries, which typically have higher rates of coronavirus spread.

Reading Chronicle:

Neither easyHotel nor the Department for Health and Social Care would confirm whether the hotel is being used for quarantine purposes.

A spokesperson from DHSC told the Chronicle that the department does not disclose the names of government-run hotels.

Giulia Savini, a customer who booked a stay at easyHotel, told the Chronicle of her disappointment at the building shutting down.

She said: “I didn’t expect this.

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“I need to go to Reading once a month because I work from home and I need to visit the office.

“Now I will have to re-arrange or postpone my visit.

“It is quite stressful -- to have to reorganise everything at the last minute is a real inconvenience.”