Up to 100 jobs will be created through the opening of a £5.5 million boutique hotel on the edge of Canterbury.

The Home Grown Hotels group, which bought the historic Bridge Place a year ago, has been busy transforming and extending the Jacobean mansion and gardens.

And now it is gearing up for its opening in May by putting together a new staffing team.

Hotel chain boss Robin Hutson says it will include roles in every area of the business, from chefs, waiters, bar staff and receptionists to gardeners and massage therapists.

He added: "We tend to employ a mixture of people with both previous experience and some with none, so long as they are prepared to work hard and have the right attitude. Then, perhaps, they might join one of our apprenticeship schemes."

Mr Hutson says the jobs are are being advertised through the trade press and on its website, which has sparked a huge response, with more than 500 applications.

There is an open day for applicants at the Westgate Hall in Canterbury on Tuesday, February 5, and more information is available on the company's website, www.thepighotel.com

Bridge Place is a Grade I-listed 17th century mansion, which sits in five acres and was built by Dutchman Sir Arnold Braems – the first manager of Dover Harbour Board.

Home Grown Hotels, which operates under the Pig Hotels brand, bought the property from its long-time owner Peter Malkin, who lived there for more than 50 years and ran it as Bridge Country Club.

Mr Hutson says he was attracted to Bridge Place because of its setting and wealth of historic interior features, many carefully preserved by Mr Malkin.

It also fits in with the company’s ethos of restoring and converting historic buildings and will be known as The Pig at Bridge.

Among the major changes is the creation of a linked coach house with bedrooms, a restaurant, conservatory, courtyard and kitchen.

Further accommodation is being provided in new ‘hop pickers’ huts, made from reclaimed material from an island within the grounds.

In addition, there will be a restored gate house offering another two bedrooms.

Together with seven newly-refurbished bedrooms in the main house, it means there will be 29 rooms altogether.

The gardens will be cultivated to grow much of the produce it intends to use in its kitchens - with the rest being sourced from local producers within a 25-mile radius.

The homely interior look and feel of the accommodation is being overseen by Robin’s wife, Judy Hutson, an acclaimed interior designer.

"It's both an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking time," said Mr Hutson, "because we have set a date to be open and have a team of up to 80 tradesmen and women on-site working flat-out."

For more information about working at The Pig at Bridge Place, visit www.thepighotel.com.