Chinese investors have bought a group of hotels in a deal worth more than £400 million, which includes two Holiday Inns in Kent.

HK CTS Metropark Hotels, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based China National Travel Service, has agreed to buy all the hotels owned and managed by Kew Green.

The Hong Kong-based chain will take over 44 UK hotels – and another 10 managed by Kew for other owners – including the Holiday Inns at Ashford and near Rochester Airport.

Senior management has been kept onboard to maintain the growth of the business across the UK and the continent, which also includes the famous Grand Hotel in Brighton, which was bombed by the IRA in the 1980s.

The deal ends Goldman Sachs’ and TPG Special Situations Partners’ ownership of Kew Green, which they bought in 2013 and grew into the largest Holiday Inn franchise in Europe.

Jeremy XU Muhan, chairman of HK CTS Metropark Hotels, said: “The purchase of Kew Green Hotels is a tremendous acquisition that provides us with a strategic growth platform within the UK and across Europe.

“Investing overseas will enable us to bridge Chinese tourism with the rest of the world.

"The acquisition of the first rate Kew Green Hotels business is the first step and it gives us this ability and provides a platform to grow from.”

Jefferies International and Macfarlanes acted for Goldman Sachs and TPG Special Situations Partners. DTZ and King & Wood Mallesons (HK and London) represented HK CTS.