The Crowne Plaza has been officially confirmed as a quarantine hotel for travellers entering the UK from red list countries.

The Basingstoke hotel has closed to the public and will be transformed into a quarantine facility for travellers returning to the UK from high-risk countries.

The Gazette revealed last week that the hotel had been nominated as a quarantine hotel, with management signing an exclusive contract with the Department for Health and Social Care to see the high-end hotel closed to the public until the end of the year.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has provided confirmation today (Tuesday).

She was also responding to concerns raised over the safety of lone female travellers, after reports from other facilities that some had been subjected to harassment by security guards.

Confirming the Gazette exclusive, Mrs Miller said: “Many hundreds of UK residents need to return to the UK but are coming from countries where they have to quarantine in hotels as soon as they arrive to help reduce the risk of spreading Coronavirus. 

“Given our proximity to the major UK airports, Basingstoke is playing its part in this national effort. 

 “It is a daunting prospect for residents returning to the UK to spend 10 days confined to a hotel room with only very limited access to daily exercise outside. I have spoken to our local NHS and their biggest priority, alongside the hotel’s staff, is supporting residents' mental and physical health.”

Following the Gazette report, Women’s Equality Party Basingstoke had written to Mrs Miller, urging her to ensure the safety of women travellers staying at the quarantine location in Basingstoke.

Following the Gazette report, Women’s Equality Party Basingstoke had written to Mrs Miller, urging her to ensure the safety of women travellers staying at the quarantine location in Basingstoke.

Recently, many women had come forward to share sexual harassments incidents they had to encounter from security staff at different quarantine locations.

Addressing the issue, Mrs Miller said: “There are stringent measures in place to safeguard the health of everyone involved and fully trained security guards and paramedics will be on site. 

“Following incidents at other quarantine hotels I raised the importance of security staff training for the safety of all returning travellers, particularly female guests. I have been reassured this training is in place and security guards will be present 24 hours a day to ensure only those quarantining are on the hotel site.”

According to the Government website, the rate for one adult to stay in one room for quarantine for 11 nights is £1,750. Additional rate for one adult (or child over 11) is £650. Additional rate for a child aged 5 to 11 is £325.

But there are reports that this price could go up by £500 as the Government seeks to discourage people from making unnecessary travels to red list countries.

The Government has classified countries as red, amber and green for countries from where travellers can come to the UK.

Those coming from a country or territory on the red list must stay at a quarantine location for 10 days.