A Kent hotel often rated the "UK's worst" looks to be keeping its name amid rumours of a rebrand.

Speculation was rife that the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone would be changing its name after part of its frontage collapsed into the street below.

The hotel, which has courted controversy many times since opening its doors in 1984, made the headlines in November after a coach driver and holidaymaker were injured by falling masonry.

Members of the coach party caught up in the drama described the accommodation as "a dump" and said they just wanted to go home.

A huge material banner subsequently appeared over the damaged wall, with the name Grand Hotel emblazoned below the logo for Britannia Hotels, which runs the imposing guest house.

The previous sign, which was taken down when defective rendering was removed in November, carried the name Grand Burstin.

It promoted widespread speculation, with Martin Stone writing in the Folkestone Residents Group on Facebook: “I detect a rebrand in the offing!”

However, a photo today shows a new banner raised in place of the old, showing the full name as 'Grand Burstin Hotel' complete with the Britannia Hotels logo.

It appears to indicate that any plans to rebrand the infamous building – which have never been confirmed – seem to have been changed.

Amid the rumours of a rebranding, some residents leapt to the defence of the hotel, which in November earned a positive review from a KentOnline reporter.

He stayed the night after Britannia was named the UK’s worst hotel operator for the 10th year in a row.

On the potential rebrand, Juliette Felton wrote: “Maybe it could do with a lick of paint, but there aren't many hotels in a seafront with entertainment every night and two restaurants where you can stay for less than £40 a night.”

Sue Ridgway added: “Stop knocking the Burstin please. It brings lots of people to our town.”

The Grand Burstin was built from the foundations of the Royal Pavilion Hotel, which itself was originally constructed in 1843.

Another famous building in the town also carries the name 'The Grand' – an Edwardian structure on The Leas now home to apartments.

Residents bought the former hotel in 2021 for just £448,000 – but were then faced with a "worst case scenario" repair bill of up to £4 million.