Travelodge investigates after ‘Free Palestine’ message appears on Jewish guest’s TV
Visibly Orthodox Jewish tourist tells Jewish News he felt 'frightened and vulnerable' after checking into Finsbury Park hotel
Travelodge is investigating allegations of antisemitism after a visibly Orthodox Jewish tourist discovered a “Free Palestine” message displayed on his hotel television during a stay at a Travelodge in Finsbury Park.
Sruly Fogel, 24, from New York, was staying at Travelodge Manor House in Finsbury Park on Wednesday while visiting the UK for a friend’s wedding when the incident allegedly occurred.
Speaking exclusively to Jewish News, Fogel said he had checked into the hotel after arriving from the United States before noticing the message on the screen in his room.
“We just went to our room and all of a sudden someone put on the TV, and it came up, ‘Hi, welcome, Free Palestine,’” he said.
Fogel said the discovery left him feeling frightened and vulnerable.
“It was really, really uncomfortable and I didn’t feel safe,” he told Jewish News.
According to a report submitted to police, Fogel also alleged that a member of hotel staff appeared hostile towards him when he checked in. He said the interaction took on greater significance after discovering the message on the television screen.
Fogel said the five-member group he was travelling with had booked two rooms at the hotel and discovered the same message displayed on televisions in both rooms.
Shomrim, which reported the incident to police, said the incident bore “all the hallmarks of targeted antisemitism”.
The incident was reported to the Metropolitan Police under reference CAD 7921/03 June 2026.
Fogel said the experience cast a shadow over what was his first visit to London.
“I’ve had a terrible experience. I doubt I will come again,” he said.
Fogel said the group remained at the hotel overnight despite feeling uneasy about what had happened.
He said they were so unsettled by the incident that one member stayed awake throughout the night while the others slept.
“We had someone up the whole time, just making sure that we were okay,” he said.
Asked whether the incident had affected his view of antisemitism in Britain, Fogel said: “It seems really bad. I come from New York, and this sort of thing doesn’t usually happen.”
Fogel said he did not initially complain because he was unable to locate a manager shortly after arriving at the hotel.
However, he said, a hotel manager met the group the following morning and apologised.
Fogel said the apology had not reassured him. He said he wanted Travelodge to establish how the incident occurred and ensure steps were taken to prevent anything similar from happening again.
Jo Boydell, CEO of Travelodge, said: “We are taking the report of an antisemitic message that appeared on the TV screen in a room in one of our hotels yesterday afternoon with the utmost seriousness.
“We were made aware of this late yesterday and launched an immediate investigation to understand how something like this could have happened.
“We are urgently investigating to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible and have reported this matter to the police.
“There is no place in society for antisemitism, and we will not tolerate this in our hotels or in our wider business.
“In the meantime, we have now spoken with the customer in question and apologised unreservedly, and further apologise for any distress or concern caused to the wider Jewish community.”
Jewish News has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
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