Who is Hassanali Karmali Alibhai Somani – The Director Behind Somani Hotels?

London, August 2025 – The name Somani Hotels has recently been in the spotlight after a court battle over the use of The Bell Hotel in Epping to house asylum seekers. At the center of this case is Hassanali Karmali Alibhai Somani, the company’s director, who runs the family-owned business alongside Nilufa Hassan Somani.

Somani Hotels and the Bell Hotel Case

The dispute began when Epping Forest District Council applied for an injunction to stop Somani Hotels from using the Bell Hotel to accommodate asylum seekers. On August 19, 2025, Mr Justice Eyre granted the request, temporarily blocking the hotel from housing asylum seekers beyond September 12.

The council argued that the company had bypassed planning permission and failed to explain its decision to the public. Although the judge noted that there was no clear evidence Somani Hotels had breached planning rules, he ruled that the firm had “sidestepped public scrutiny.”

Somani Hotels, together with the Home Office, is now challenging this injunction at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Who Owns Somani Hotels?

Somani Hotels Limited is a family-run company, registered in the UK in 2000. It is classed as a micro-entity, with a reported turnover of under £632,000.

The company is directed by Hassanali Karmali Alibhai Somani, born in 1961, who has also held roles as a director and secretary in other businesses. His partner in the company is Nilufa Hassan Somani.

Hotels Owned by Somani Hotels

Somani Hotels currently operates several properties across the UK, including:

• The Bell Hotel, Epping (Essex)

• Aubrey Park Hotel, near St Albans (Hertfordshire)

• One Mill Street, Luton (Bedfordshire)

The Bell Hotel has been the focal point of recent protests and counter-protests due to its role in accommodating asylum seekers.

Past Use of Hotels for Asylum Seekers

Lawyers for Somani Hotels pointed out that the Bell Hotel had previously been used to house asylum seekers at different times:

• May 2020 – March 2021

• October 2022 – April 2024

• Since April 2025

Until now, the council had not taken legal action against the company for this practice.

The Bigger Picture

The injunction against Somani Hotels has attracted attention from councils across the country. Following the ruling, several local authorities said they may explore similar legal action against hotels in their areas.

At the same time, the Home Office argued that the block on the Bell Hotel creates “acute difficulties” in fulfilling its duty to asylum seekers. However, the court ruled that the department’s intervention was not necessary.

For Hassanali Karmali Alibhai Somani and his family business, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how local councils and hotel owners manage asylum housing disputes in the future.