by Nick Lillitos
nlillitos@thekmgroup.co.uk

A hotel said to have ­a connection to notorious gangsters the Kray twins is up for sale for ­£2.75 million.
The Russell Hotel in Boxley Road, Penenden Heath, Maidstone, an elegant Victorian building of 42 rooms, has been refurbished by Best Western Hotels group.
The Russell is being offered freehold through Christie and Co agents in Tonbridge.
Until the 1970s it housed The Sacred Heart convent and school then was sold to the Emma Group for £250,000.
East End-born Ronald and Reggie Kray were involved in armed robberies and violent assaults including ­torture and murders and jailed for life in 1969.
Maidstone town ­centre manager Bill Moss recalls: “A long time back the Krays had a ­financial interest in that building and mum Violet would sometimes stay there while on visits to Reggie in Maidstone prison.”
Andrew Moore, of Christie’s, told the Kent Messenger: “Yes, the present owner does say the building once had a connection with the Krays but it was such a long time ago and nobody knows precisely.”
The building is graded as a 3-star hotel with facilities including conferencing and banqueting suites, landscaped gardens and car parking. For details visit www.christie.com