AN ASHFORD hotel recently bought by a Merseyside group is creating 20 new jobs following a £2 million facelift.

Centre Island Hotels is carrying out a full refurbishment of the 100-bedroom Ashford Holiday Inn Garden Court

The Liverpool-based company, which already operates franchised hotels in North West England, said it wanted to establish the Garden Court as one of the leading hotels “within the South Coast area.”

The facelift includes improvements to the existing restaurant and bar, and the addition of a self-contained conference and banqueting suite.

Centre Islands Hotels’ operations director Mark Foster said: “With the new and improved facilities, we hope to create 20 new jobs.”

He added: “We are delighted to have acquired such a well established hotel as the Garden Court and look forward to developing the property further and adding to the facilities available in the local and regional hotel market place.”