AN HOTEL in the centre of Canterbury plans to expand by 70 bedrooms to become the largest in the city. Slatters, in St Margaret's Street, is proposing a complete facelift, an extra floor and an extension into the car park behind.

The project, estimated at between £2m and £3m, would completely change the look of the hotel, say architects. David Stewart, of city architects Lee Evans de Moubray, said: "Slatters will have a complete overhaul. It's a very tired hotel - the place needs a face-lift.

"The existing frontage is a rather non-descript sixties style. We're going to give it a totally new facade on the St Margaret's Street side."

The new re-vamped hotel will boast 101 bedrooms over five floors, each with an en-suite bathroom. Paul Lombardi, manager of Slatters, said: "It will be great for Canterbury. It will be a lovely hotel. But that doesn't mean we'll suddenly triple our prices. The rooms are very nice at the moment and we will remain reasonably priced."

Mr Lombardi said the proposals were still at a planning stage, so it would be impossible to say when the work might begin.