Ukraine in Arabic | Famous London hotel to become Islamic
KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ London’s Bermondsey Square Hotel no longer serves alcohol and pork to guests after its new Muslim owner decided to run the venue in accordance to Islamic law.
The owner, who is also said to be a Middle Easterner, turned the hotel into one of the first in the UK to impose a strict Islamic policy which bans the consumption of liquor and pork on its premises.
Dishes that included traces of alcohol – such as beer-battered fish, a pudding with “drunken cherries” and rum ice cream -- are now denied to customers, hotel staff explained.
Attempts were also on the way by chefs to replace pork varieties with chicken and beef sausages for breakfast meals.
While at the bar, customers were told only non-alcoholic beer is available, the staff said.
“Drinkers were offered only non-alcoholic beer and elderflower cordial,” the British daily said.
The £220-a-night hotel ($275.5) was previously voted as the trendiest place to stay in the UK.
The sudden changes have reportedly prompted the cancellation of many reservations, the newspaper said, stimulating a surge in business for nearby restaurants.
Workers at the hotel fear they would lose their jobs unless the hotel begins targeting a different clientele.
